Law Department notice on WTC document preservation, Oct 2001

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document that residences cleaned by the program have not been re-contsminated, EPA disagrees. [See Appendix R £PA bas done post-cleaning testing in common spaces, in residences. EPA does not [Note 25 believe firther testing to assure there has not been recomtaminszion is aceded. The testing results to date do not show widespread exceedences; the vast amount of dust from the WIC and streets and buildings {exterior and interior) has been removed. Retesting would involve over 4,000 dwelling units with on average of 5 asbestos in au samples per unit, or at loast 20,000 additional samples, Cleanup work in lower Manhattan has largely been completed. With reapect to the recommendation that EPA work with FEMA and OSH to assess Seo SR whether the onguing residential testing and cleaning program should be expanded to Nee px sdivess potential contamination in work spaces i Lower Manhattan, or whether other measures anced to be taken ta ensuse that work spaces are not contaminated with WTC dust, EPA disagrees. As previously mentioned. EPA focused upon 4 cleanup progeam for residences, because this ig where individuals spend the most time and where the greatest nved for assistance in conducting cleanup and getting renasurance was evident. Further as stated above, the Agency has no data te support the need for 2 magsive testing and cleanup program in Lower Manhattan. CHAPTER? EPA SHOULD CONTINUE EFFORTS TO IMPROVE CONTINGENCY PLANNING * Canciusion: “Although many organizations were involved in addressing air wally concerns resulting from the WTC collapse, subsequent events have dernonsnwied that. ultimately, the public and other expect EPA to monitor and resolve environmental issues, even though EPA may nut have the overall responsibility to resolve these issues or the nevessary resources to address them. These issues range from collecting, interpreting and communicating environmental information to cleaning up any environmental contaminaion. EPA must be prepared to wke a leadership role. within the evolving framework established by the Department of Homeland Security and existing statutes, In fulfilling its mission of ‘protecting human health and the environment,” if anothers targe- scale disaster occurs.” ¢ Revommendations sammary): EPA should work with the Department of Homeland Security and other agencies to share information an likely targets and threats and collaboratively develop approaches to address these threats. 0 129 Report No. 2003-P-00012 NYC-WTC_000145660