Law Department notice on WTC document preservation, Oct 2001

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

Appendix P

EPA Letter Concerning Worker Protection

UNITED STATES ENVlRONMeNTAL PROTECTIOH M3&NCV REGION n EDISON. NEW JERSEY08837

OCT 05 MOI Mr. Kelly IL McKinney. P.E. Associate Crunjiiigsioner Bureau of Regulatory Environmoiital Health Services The City of Mew Yt^ - department of health: 125 Wcuth Street, Room 616, CN-32 New York, NY 1001J Dear Mr. McKinney;

Health and safety ooaccros fer woiken a the World Trade Center Disaster Site {WTC> has bean a concern from foe begteoiog of foe response, tn addition to staodard oonstrucCitm/demeditson site safety coocems, t& Site also poses ttireata to woAms letatsd to potenfral exposure to hazardous mibstances. Soraces ofhazardous jobetaoces include (1) building materials from foe destroyed buiWmgs (priinarily asbestos), (2) hazatdtnia materials that ware stored in foe (JuiJdinBB feofetgerants, hazacdoes wastes, allene glycol, oonipresseii gas cylindaa. etc.), and (3) products of coarbustion bouig emitted from foe tires that cotfoaue to bum within foe debds piles. £PA along with a wanber of other federal, slate and your agency, has been gatherine iuforraaxion ifoout these threats to worker heaifo. Air stunpUng by EPA and ofoers indicates chat asbestos sod other coataRHnams are present in foe for at the WTC. EPA has reconunondod, and eootinaes to recommend, that worfecre at foe Site wear respiratory protcctioo.

fii addition, EPA has recoannwaded, and continues to nseomnwswl. that workos utilize petsonal protective equitanctst add tbo posoofteiS wa* atetioas to jkbwcm me i^waad of ishestos and other hazardous sob^snees tbom the WTC to their homes, cars, pubKe tran^poctstion, food servtce htealioas, etc. We have obsmved vary inconsialerH ootnpjianee with oar reeoBunendatioos, however, we do not have authority to ei&m.'c the worker health and safety policies fee aoo- EPA/USCQ enoptoyess. Thefeforc, £PA baJieves foe Incident CemmsRder shoold adopt and enforce a sBc-wido Ke^fo and Safety Plan, if tbers is anything I can do to assist you coacamiog thistnsKer, please fertfirca to call roc at (732) 321-6636.

Stneerdy yours,

Bruce Sprague, Chief Redons© sod Pievcatijon Branch cc; FCO. PEMA

115 Report No. 2003-P-00012

NYC-WTC_000145470