Mayor's memo on indoor air quality concerns, Feb 28, 2002

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

Thursday 28 of Feb 2002, Mayor Office ->718 595 4544 Page 2 of V

OFFICE OF THE MAYOR City Hall, New York, New York 10007

Ester Fuchs Special Advisor for Governance and Strategic Planning

MExMORANDUM

TO: Michael Cardozo Bill Cunningham Tom Frieden Marc Shaw Ed Sklyer Alessandra Sumowicz

SUBJECT: Congressman Nadler’s concerns about indoor air quality in Lower Manhattan

DATE: February 28,2002

Congressman Nadler called to share the following concerns and sent a copy of his testimony. You may all be aware of this information, but he believes that the City is open to serious litigation and that FEMA should be paying for indoor cleanup. Congressman Nadler’s concerns;

Congressman Nadier believes that the EPA has neglected its responsibility for monitoring indoor air quality around Ground Zero. o He says that the EPA handed over responsibility for measuring indoor air quality to the City without putting in place proper oversight measures, and that the City then turned over this responsibility to property owners. Citizens are now left with the responsibility of monitoring and cleaning the indoor air and interior of buildings in lower Manhattan. o Nadler says that on the same day Christie Whitman stated that New Yorkers should not worry about their air or water quality, her agency withheld the results of tests that showed higher than acceptable levels of asbestos and other contaminants.

All agree that there is at least a low level of asbestos in the dust in many buildings in lower Manhattan. The New York City Department of Health (DOH) I .as told citizens they should clean their buildings with wet mops and rags. (See www.nvc.gov/health) Congressman Nadler has pointed out that since only licensed asbestos cleaners may clean asbestos, the City may be instructing New Yorkers to do something illegal.

Nadler contends that barges around the sight are transporting hazardous material without following proper procedures.

He says that schools around Ground Zero have not cleaned their air conditioning ducts. There are 5.000 students in the area, not including those at the Borough of Manhattan Community College.

Congressman Nadler has testified about these problems at the EPA National Ombudsman Hearing on WTC Hazardous Waste Contamination (2Z23/02), and before the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, Subcommittee on Clean Air. Wetlands, and Climate Change (2/11/02).

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