NYC Law Department letter regarding EPA draft report excerpts, July

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

Press Information Sunday, September 17 Most Recent Results (as of3:30pm 9117):

AiT samples taken from 10 pcnnanent air monitors in and around grollnd zero were, for the most part, below background levels. One SC1111ple. taken within the hot zone, a~ed only by response workers, was above EPA's background level of seventy structures per square meter. While the level was not considered high, EPA continues to advise penonal protective equipment for the emergency response workers.

Five dust samples were taken from the restricted area south of ground zero. One sample bas already been analyzed for asbestos content and showed an asbestos content greater than l % (2.1 %), which is the definition commonly used to define asbestos containing .material. The four remaining samples will be ~yzed for asbestos, voes, lead and dioxin later with results expected later this wee. EPA is coordinating with the city to resamplc and vacuum:areas where sampJes contain greater than 1% asbestos.

EPA and the NYC DEP sampled drinking water at 13 diltn'bution points in lower Manhattan on September lS. Typically, sampling is done at the water main distribution points and not at the tap. The majority of the results arc not yet available (see below}. However, the.""e were no detectable levels of asbestos in any of the drinking water samples.

Peading Results:

EPA' s T AGA unit. a. sophisticated mobile sampler has been used in the area near ground zero to take air samples throughout the area and analyze for voes. and freon. None of the results from the six sampling locations indicate any levels of concem.

On Saturday, September 1 S, EPA took a sample of the Hudson River just off Vesey Street a.t a storm drain that carried runoff from the ground zero site during Friday's rain. This sample is being analyzed for a number of contaminants, including metals, PCBs, Dioxin, polybrominated biphenyls (PBB ·s) and asbestos. Results are expected early next week (week of 9/17):

EPA and the city jointly sampled the drinking water distribution system below 14111 Street. These samples were taken at routine sampling sites and will be analyzed for normal driilldng water parameters - both chemical and biological. The ci1}' DEP split tb.e samples with EPA for their own analysis. Asbestos results are in (above). Otter results are expected. this week (week of9/17)

EPA took sa.'"Tlples at three locations at Newlown Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant, which is the recipient of wastewater from lower Manhattan. The samples will be analyzed for a number of contaminants including all those tested for in the Hudson (sec above) with the exception of PPBs. Also, the samples are being analyzed for total suspended solids and biochemical oxyg~ demand. which are common indicators of how well a waste water treatment plant is operating. Samples will also be analyzed for asbestos. Results are expected later this week (week of 9117).

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