NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document
buildings 4, 5 and 6 because City officials were advised by the property owner
and one of the larger tenants, which happened to be a Federal agency, that there
was no asbestos in the above ground structures. In any event, throughout the
WTC site, proper planning was taken in the removal of asbestos-containing
material and proper procedures were followed in removing any asbestos
containing material, which were below grade, and to minimize exposure to
asbestos-containing material. Health and safety meetings were held every day at
6:00 p.m. to deal with, among other things, removal of asbestos-containing
material. A number of City, State, and Federal agencies, including OSHA, DEC,
FEMA, EPA, USACE, and PEP, as well as the construction managers and
Bechtel participated in these meetings. All participants contributed their expertise
and collaboratively played a role in the decision making at these meetings. These
meetings discussed, among other things, removal of asbestos-containing material
and the adequate wetting down of the material. Procedures for removal of the
material were continuously revised considering the location and nature of the
material and any other issues affecting removal. Also, in this regard, a health and
safety plan for the site was created to address issues such as the removal of
asbestos-containing material. All agencies, including the EPA, reviewed this plan
and provided input into the final version of the plan. As set forth below, proper
procedures, including measures to insure adequate wetting down of asbestos-
containing material, were taken.Gitv-effieials-told us that the City’s Asbestos
Control Program rules did not apply beeause-of-the emergency situation. Further^
aNYCDDC official told us that the Port-Authority had removed accessible
asbestos centaiaiag material from the WTC buildings prior to September 11.
Consequently, in his view asbestos was-aot-arprimary concern in the demolition.
NYC-WTC_000146036
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