Draft report excerpt on WTC demolition and debris removal, 2001

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document Date 10-25-01 riterato 9/13 momo fror Key Statement 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 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 in bulk samplesthe dust in their buildings, (see Appendix O for a copy of the instructions). ouona suppRia ito supng tein asvio asses weod vewo NYCDER officials told us that there is no statutory authority to they did net conduct a certifieation program to determine the level of compliance with their instructions fr regarding tho testing and cleaning of asbestos inside buildings This is a purely voluntary program. In January and February 2002, NYCDEP contacted building owners by express mail and asked them to file reports? This was followed up by a second mailing and by visits, but not inspections, by inspectors to building owners, who had not responded. However, the only authority to conduct inspections of buildings is if a complaint is made, Aа сто vahe cod or if the building owner reports that a bylk sample was found containing more than 1% asbestos. NYCDEP received over 300 complaints with respect to asbestos inside buildings and conducted inspections eoneerning every complaint. In conducting over 300 inspections, NYCDEP found only 1 caset where a bulk sample exceeded 1% asbestos. wd There were37 instances, pursuant to the Asbestos Control Program, where building owners reported bulk sample levels of 1% or more asbestos. Inspections were conducted el in every instance and the mopections found tevets of 1% or greater in onty. cases. cus Beginning in September 2001, City officials along with EPA officials,they said they pel began visually inspecting the exteriors of over 1,000 buildings and identified 324 323 buildings with visible dust. NYCDEP officials told us that 90102 of these 324323 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 theif 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 November 2001. The sampling phase was completed in December 2001, and the final report was issued by DRAFT - FOR REVIEW AND COMMENT PURPOSES ONLY Bezin is lole Seat 2001 NYC-WTC_000146101