Draft report excerpt on WTC demolition and debris removal, 2001

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

Date Key statement NV 10-25^^ NYCDEP described benchmarks and guidelines used to -------- evaluate environmental conditions in a letter to Lower Manhattan residents dated October 25. In regard to cleaning indoor spaces the letter stated: “If more than 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 I 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 City’s Buildings Department. NYCDEP officials told us this notification applied to buildings owners who found more than 1 percent asbestos ir/^k?^amplesthe dust in their buildings (see Appendix O for a-cOpyXjhe instructions).' I thevdidHno^conduct a certification program to determine the leyel of compliance with their instructioDsJft^^ rcgardin^tb^ptgsfing^gndrclcamng of asbestos inside buiIdingSpThis is a purely yoluntarv prdgramT'^In January and February 2002, N YCDEF contact building owners by express mail and asked them t< This was Followed up by a second mailing and by but not uiuuubne^bvin^pectors to building owners, who had not responded? 9 Howeyer, the only authority to conduct inspections of buildings is if a complaint is made. ***** or if the building owner reports that a bylk sample was found containing more than 1% asbestos. NYCDEP receiyed over 300 complaints with respect to asbestos inside— buildings and conducted inspections eoneeming every complaints In cfmdntLlllg uvu JOU \ inspections. NYCDEP found only 1- case| where a bulk sample exceeded 1 % asbestos. *4 There were?$^nstances, pursuant to the Asbestos Control Program, where building pWnCTs reported bulk sample levels of 1% or more asbestos. Inspections were conducted in every instance and the inspections found levels uf 1% or greater Ih uiri y ‘ . cases, Beginning in September 2001. City officials along with EPA officials.thev said they began visually inspecting the exteriors of over 1,000 buildings and identified 334-323 buildings with visible dust. NYCDEP officials told us that 90102 of these 334323 building exteriors were subsequently cleaned by the building owners and the remaining owners stated they could not afford to clean their buildings. These remaining buildings were cleaned by contractors hired by NYCDEP.owners were eligible-to have their buildings cleaned by NYCDEP with funding provided by FEMA.

In order to determine the extent of indoor contamination in Lower Manhattan residences, the NYCDOH and ATSDR initiated an indoor air study in Noyember 2001. The sampling phase was completed in December 2001, and the final report was issued by DRAFT - FOR REVIEW AND COMMENT PURPOSES ONLY A.

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