Fax cover sheet for WTC-related correspondence, July 7, 2003

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

deplegal affairs Fax:l71B5g56543 Jul 7 2003 9:07 P. 02

Excerpts from Background Section of the Draft Report

Early Response

Various circumstanoes complicated the Government’s and EPA’s ability to respond to environmental concerns in what was an unprecedented and extremely difficult situation. The New York City Office of Emergency Management’s Emergency Operations Centex was destroyed in the attacks. EPA’s Region 2 . office, about a half-mile from Ihe WTC site, was evacuated and not re-opened until 2 weeks after the attacks. Electrical power was lost iii Lower Manhattan, as

transportation to Lower Manhattan was halted, as well as restrieted and commercial air travel was^halted-nationwide.

As with most disasters, local authorities were the first responders. “Ground Zero,” as the seven-building WTC area site would become known, was initially a search and rescue effort under the direction of the Fire Department of New York and, subsequently, a recovery operation under the jurisdiction of the New York City Office ofEmergency Management During the recovery phase, which began

and the Fire Department of New York were co-iucident commanders. According to New York City’s Deputy Assistant Chief of the Fire Department, “the complexity of the activity performed at one site - rescue, recovery, demolition, and construction - at one time is unprecedented.” This nissivisi;idented £B533Iexity is evidenced bv the fact that the New York City' se ofEmergency immediately undertook to coordinate the tse efforts of

request assistance from State and ] ties for coordination and agcj ihshment of various tasks-faMnediate gesponse-aetions to save lives undmeet basio-huroon needs took precedence over

Further complicatmg the situation was the fact that the area was treated as a crime . scene, with law enforcement authorities strictly limiting access for agencies such as the EPA for aaly-tire first day or two, a few days, EPA-acceos to the-site wos

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