Law Department notice on WTC document preservation, Oct 2001

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document of the WTC attacks. EPA acknowledges that there are lessons to be learned about how to communicate more effectively, especially in the difficult srea of risk communication. and and has made this a priority as it implements “lessons learned” from both 9/11 and the Columbia accident. EPA‘s Hoereland Security Strategic Plan includes goals which disseminate timely, quality envitonmenta! information to aif levels of government, [Note 13 industry and public. CHAPTER 3. EPA’s RESPONSE TO INDOOR ENVIRONMENT CONSISTENT WITH STATUTES ANB REGULATIONS BUT MAY BAVE DELAYED NEEDED HEALTH PROTECTION Report Copclusions/Recammendations: C NYC-WTC_000145477 Coaclusion: “For indoor environment concerns resulting form the collapse of the WIC towers, EPA had the authority to act under CERCLA but was not obligated to do so, Guidelines exist for determining whether an emergency response is wartanlod; however, these guidelines are not definitive. Under the NCP, it was within EPA's discretion to defer to New York City the responsibility for responding to indoor couramination concerns. EPA's action was consistent with the FRP, which is intended te supplement local government response. Although EPA acted within its discretion, ¢ 1998 Presidential directive and the more recent National Strategy for Homeland Security task EPA with taking the leadership rote in cleaning up buildings and other sites contaminated by chernicat or biological agents as a result of an act of terrorism. EPA needs to work with the Department of Homeland Security and other agcncics to detennine the nature and form with which the Federal government should assume more direct role in addresging indoor environment concerns, wader what circumstances this direct role should occur, and the oversight mechanisms to be employed when local agencies undertake such responses. In the WTC case, the delay in providing a govemment-organized and adequately monitored cleanup io Lower Manhattan way have contributed to unnecessary exposures te asbestos and other pollutants by unprotected workers and residents.” Recommendations: That the EPA Administrator coordinate with the Department of Homeland Security, FEMA, and other appropriate Federal agencies, and those State and jocal governments having jurisdiction over potential terrorist targets to : Develop protocols for determining how indoor envirormental conceme will be bandied in large-scnle disasters, to include addressing: 122 Report No. 2003-P-00012