Mayor's Office fax proposing expanded task force, Mar 2002

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

i staff would he necessary as well. A website and a storefront office should be established as well. Maximum expected volume is approximately 100 calls per day, based on calls to DEP- HELP on the air quality issue. Other lower Manhattan matters would be referred to Andy I Salkin (construction utilities street closings) and Josh Sirefman (economic development) as I appropriate. • Review data and analyze risk Retain a professional environmental engineering firm to review all the bulk and air quality data collected to date and to perform a broad-based risk analysis,-._C^imission the firm to^ make more definite statements and clea.",comparisons of risks thanha^ been made to date (e.g. comparisons of air quality in Lower Manhattan vs. LA or Houston or Mexico City.) The firm should also develop interesting and user-friendly charts and graphics that will convey these risks to a lay audience. • Public information campaign Retain a professional communications firm to develop an aggressive community outreach campaign ith pamphlets, videos, a web site, and maps to communicate environmental data and showcase the City's response efforts in Lower-Manhattan. Promote the efforts the City has already undertaken - there has been an exlraordinar, level of cooperation between many governmental entities tliroughout this process. • Air quality ombudsman Hire a reputable environmental consultant to act as an ombuusman/advocate for the public _ with the City,,attend community board meetings, assist the community in interpreting data, etc. The firm would be available to answer questions and even perform some basic indoor air quality testing upon request. OEM reports that this was done for the lead paint issue, and it worked well. • Digitize DEP sampling results DEP has information on over 100,000 samples taken by contractors in private buildings. Organize, digitize, and share this info to reassure the public (check with DEP legal on this.) Develop database to provide information on timing and results of testing at given addresses J

south of Chambers. Hotline operators could pro\4de this information. • Enforcement authority Determine agencies' (DEP, DOH, HPD, DOB) enforcement authority regarding testing and— cleaning dust. Decide upon enforcement efforts and document them. Promotion of this nr; st be balanced with desire not to discourage business and investment in the area. Check on regulatory authority of DEP, HPD, and DOB and whether dust can be declared a public health nuisance. • Refiite misleading data and interpretations Misleading data regarding Lower Manhattan’s environmental safety has been publicly released, causing confusion among area residents and businesses. The eventual result has been the erosion of the public’s confidence in the ability of various government agencies to address environmental issues in Lower Manliattan. For example an EPA scientist in Washington, Cate Jenkins, has circulated a number of memss on EPA letterhead disputing EPA’s air quality assurances. EPA has to date not refuted her allegations but has expressed an intention ^o do so in the near future. The City should consider asking a blue ribbon panel of health experts (from NYU, Columbia, Mount Sinai) to examine published data and Hl rnmmmx-.oT^ efFoT-ts.

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