Law Department notice on WTC document preservation, Oct 2001

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document that residences cleaned by the program have not bean re-contaminated, EPA disagrees. See Appendix R £PA bas done post-cleaning testing in common spaces, in residences. EPA does not (Note 25 believe farther testing to sssure there has not been recontaminstion is nceded. The testing results to date do not show widespread exceedences; the vast arnount of dost from the WTC and sircets and buildings {exterior and interior) has been removed. Retesting would invoive over 4,000 dwelling units with en average of 5 asbestos in aur samples per unit, or at loast 20,000 additionat samples. Cleanup work in lower Manhattan has largely been completed. With respect to the recommendation that EPA work with FEMA and OSHA to assess See xR whether the ouguing residential testing and cleaning program should be expanded to Loerie aa veix sidress potential cantemination in work spaces in Lower Manhatten, or whether other measures nced to be taken to ensure that work spaces are not contaminated with WTC dust, EPA disagrees. Ag previously mentioned, EPA focused upon 2 cleanup program for residences, because this ig where individuals spend the most time aud where the greatest need for assistance in conducting cleanup and getting reassurance was evident. Further as stated above, the Agency has no data tc suppdet the need for a massive testing and cleanup program in Lower Manhattan. CHAPTER? EPA SHOULD CONTINUE EFFORTS TO EMPROVE CONTINGENCY PLANNING e Canclusion: “Although many orgenizations were involved in addressing air quality concems resulting from the WTC coliepse, subsequent eveuts have dernonstrated that. ultimately, the public and other expect EPA to monitor and resolve environmental issues, aven though EPA may not have the overall responsibility to resolve these issues or the nevessary resources to address theat. These issuns range from collecting, interpreting and communicating environmental information to cleaning up any environmental contamination. EPA must be prepared to wke 2 leadership role. within the evolving framework established by the Department of Homeland Security and existing statutes, io fulfilling ite mission of ‘protseting human health and the environment,” if another targc~ scale disaster occurs.” e Recommendations {fsummary): EPA should work with the Department of Homeland Security and other agencies to share information on likely targets and threats and collaboratively develop approaches to address these threats. 10 129 Report No. 2003-P-00012 NYC-WTC_000145484 ee 8