EPA report excerpt on NYC building owner guidance, June 2003

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

D M ]r T

Table 3-1 notes three key instructions New York City provided to building owners and residents regarding the potential for indoor contamination resulting from the collapse of the WTC towers and steps for cleaning the indoor contamination: Table 3-1: Actions by New York City

Date Key Statement i

A 09-16-01 The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYCDEP) issued a “Public Notice” flyer to building owners that discussed building maintenance issues. The notice stated that building owners/managers rd/ should have possible contamination problems reviewed by competent professionals. NYGBEP officials said the notice woo not mailod or tfiohided in aiiyiiewspaper, bufcmsdistribut^by hand in Lower Manhattan by NYCDEP inspectors (see Appendix M for a copy of the notice). 09-17-01 NYCDOH issued a press release that recommended that individuals reentering their residences and places of work remove dust by using a wet rag or wet mop, and vacuum with a HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filtration vacuum. If a HEPA vacuum was not available, the press release recommended using HEPA bags or dust allergen bags with a regular vacuum cleaner, (see Appendix N for a copy of the press release). 10-25-01 NYCDEP described benchmarks and guidelines used to evaluate environmental conditions in a letter to Lower Manhattant^rae^dated 7 ^ic^ef 2^ln regard to cleaning indoor spaces the lett^siatemN___ _ >1^ “If more th^ 1 percent asbestos was found and testing and cleaning was necessary, it had to be performed by certified personnel.” In addition, the statement indicated landlords should not reopen any building until a competent professional had properly inspected their building. The City’s Asbestos Abatement Program requires that building owners file a written notification with the NYCDEP for asbestos abatement projects that do not require plan or permit approval from the/ c<\K City’s Buildings Department. NYCDEP officials told us this notification 4" applifidto buildings owners who found more than 1 percent asbestos in theWu^^their buildings (see Appendix O for a copy of the

officials told us they did not conduct a ^rtificationjprogram to determine the 3^ r \ Clgvel ofcomplianc^with their instrucUons regarding the testing and cleaning of asbestos inside buildings, hleginning iiCSentem^ 2001, they_s^d they began visually inspecting o exteriors nF over 1 .Ifoo buMingsAnd identifie£3^ buildings with visible dust. a'

cleaned by the building owners and/the remaining owAers stated they could not afford to / clean their buildings. These remaining owners were elmible to have their buildings cleaned by NYCDEP with funding provided by FEMA. F

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