Law Department notice on WTC document preservation, Oct 2001

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

Appendix J

NYCDEP October 25, 2001 Instructions to Residents

Department of Environmentai Protection Executive Offices 59-17 Junelion Qu«icvard-19lh floor

M Corona, New York ! 1368-5107 w ww tiyc.gov,'dep

Joe] A. Miele Sr., P.E., Commissioner (718) 595-6565 Fax #: (718) 59S-.3525 E-mail: Imiclc^nysnet.nct

October 25, 2001

Dear Residents of Lower Manhattan;

Since September 11'*’, ibe IJ.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). NYC Department of Envirorunenfal Protection (L>£P), NYC Department of Health (DOH), and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), have been taking samples of the air, dust, water, river scdimcnls and drinking water and analyzing them for the presence of pollutants. The samples are evaluated against a variety of bcaclunarks, standards and guidelines established to protect public health under various conditions. These agencies consider the amount of time a person is exposed !o a particular pollutant and where—a schuoE workplace or home—in creating these criteria.

The following :s a description of some of the benchmarks, standards and guidelines these agencies are using to evaluate environmental condieans m the aftermatfa of the World Trade Center disaster

Asbestos in the Air / in Qaen Spaces

EPA is requiring the strictest protective standard under AHERA, ths .Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Ace for asbestos in outdoor and indoor areas. (This standard is used to determine whether children may reenter a school building after asbestos has been removed or abated.) To be as protective as possible, EPA, together with NYCDEP and all the other health and enviroamenul agencies, are requiring school reentry standards in tests around the World Trade Center site. NYCDEP, USEPA, and NYC Department of Sanitation worked to perform cleanups of all dust in exterior areas with HEPA vacuums and wetwaahing. NYCDEP and EP.A have both conducted tests in exterior spaces and alt exterior areas of Lower Manhattan that were closed passed their strict protective standards before being opened again to the public. '

AsiKxtos in Q.ifSi.ilf..8ntlciinss

11" a sunsliwicc contains tnorc than 1% asbc.stus, it us considered to be an ••asbestos-containing iratcrial." There are Federal, State, and C;iy regulations in place to ensure the proper handling and disposal of asbesio.s-cDrituir.ina material. If a substance cctitains 1% or less asbestos, fhc.se rcgulntions ilo not apply,

91 Report No. 2003-P-00012

NYC-WTC_000145446