WTC document preservation notice, NYC Law Department

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

0X417/02 11:29 FAZ IC 003

J vacuumed) by properly trained personnel. Some sources have also indicated that even greater cleanup measures were taken.

However, even when foe EPA received test results from a study ccmmtssioned by foe Task Force that indicated serious levels of asbestos and other materials Inside downtown apartments, foe EPA continued to guide residents to foe NYC Department of Health (NYCDOH) for direction. The NYCDOH directed residents who are foe same distance away from Ground Zero as the Federal buildings, to dean eabestos-iaden dust "with wet rags end mops" or "wet brooms.*

"We must ask why Is what foe EPA says is good enough tor New York residents not good enough for foe EPA itself? Either foe cleanup measures taken at foe EPA office were necessary to protect Its workers or foe EPA wasted wasted tax- payer dollars on an unnecessary cleanup,' stated Congressman Nadler.

Moreover, foe Congressman argued, foot by delegating authority to the more lenient City standard, foe EPA may have violated the law, as foe agency is compelled to ensure that such City standards are at least as stringent as Federal lew.

"Today, ( have leveled some serious charges at the EPA because 1 believe I have the moral responsibility to do so. However, (want to make perfectly clear that we still do not know the extent of the presence of hazardous materials'm some areas downtown. It may or may not be dangerous in some indoor areas of lower Manhattan. I believe that given that we don’t have alt of the focts, we cannot conclude anything. I do know that we must get the proper foots and act swifBy and appropriately to get the Jeb done right," said ftsp. Nadler.

CALLS FOR ACTION

Rep. Naaier and the Ground Zero Elected Officials Task Force called for four actions by the EPA:

1) Expedited testing of lower Manhattan residences end workspaces for hazardous materials levels, if shown to be necessary by test results, the proper cleaning of such indoor spaces by the EPA or appropriate government agency or its designated contractors. Such a testing and cleanup'effort must be coordinated by a single agency utilizing the strictest Federal guidelines. ‘

2) The foil, independent and unfettered investigation by the EPA Nationsl Ombudsman into EPA’s response to the September 11* attacks in New York.

3) The release of all documents detailing the Justification of the cleanup of 290 Broadway and 26 Federal Plaza, how that cleanup was conducted, by whom, and at whose expense;

4) An immediate explanation from EPA of why H didn’t uHiza or enforce strict, Federal guidelines regarding hazardous testing and cleanup downtown, in fovor of more lenient City standards.

In addition. Congressman Nadler celled for immediate Congressione! hearings into ail of these matters.

Rep. Nadler has served In Congress since 1082. He represents the 8th Congressional District of New York, which includes parts of Manhattan and Brooklyn, including the area surrounding 'Ground Zero.* He is the Chair of the Ground Zero Elected Officials Task Force. #00 ” Rep.,Nadler's statement is attached

Statement of Representative Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) Exposing EPA Mishandling of Response to Sept 11* Attacks January 17.2002

Thank you all for being hare. I em Joined today by members of the Ground Zero Elected Officials Task Force and by Hugh Kaufman, Chief lr\vest!gator for the EPA National Ombudsman. I want to also thank the New York Environmental Law and Justice Project for their assistance in bringing some of these matters to my attention. 80zS0'd 2TS dd3a/yd3 'S’n Bt’:6T 2002-iT-Nbr NYC-WTC_000144768