Draft proposal for Lower Manhattan environmental task force, February 2002

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

•i

I

Funding Options Tlie initiative and the hotline should be implemented and announced quickly. Following are options to consider for overall funding: . • Christie Todd Whitman sent Senator Clinton a memo indicating that $2.7 billion in CDBG A funds w'as available to assist with recovery/cleanup efforts. • Approach Virginia Fields, Jerry Nadler, .Alan Gerson and other members of the "Ground ]) Zero" Task Force to contribute funds to the retaining of an independent environmental /y ■ consultant to address constituent concerns in lower Manliattan. n • FEM A reimbursement? 4.9^ • Lower Manhattan Development Corp funds? • Available City funds? - - - ---- - - — ----

Major proposed activities • Hotline Establish a hotline to provide information to residents, businesses, visitors, parents, etc. on » issues listed above. Feature all agencies’ environmental testing results (such as daily DEP I asbestos update, EPA, ATSDR, NIOSH data); interpret these results; and provide links to other testing information. Five people each from DEP and DOH could serve as staff, and additional computer/database staff w ould be 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. • Public information campaign Hire an environmental/community outreach consultant to develop materials, staff hotline, etc. Involve CAU. Produce high quality pamphlets, maps, graphics to showcase the City’s efforts. Promote the efforts the City has already undertaken - there has been an e.xtraordinaiv' level of cooperation between many goA’emmental entities throughout this process. • Digitize DEP sampling results , _ x 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 south of Chambers. Hotline operators could provide 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 i must be balanced with desire not to discourage business and investment in the area.) (Discuss with HPD as well.) Check on regulatoruy authority of DEP. Can dust be declared a nuisance? • Air qualitx ombudsman Hire consultant to act as an ombudsman/advocate for the public with the City, attend community board meetings, assist the community in interpreting data, etc. OEM reports that few '^'7

the City had Lehman Associates do this on the lead paint issue, and it worked well. • Refute EPA rogue scientist’s assertion that air quality is a problem An EPA scientist in Washington, Cate Jenkins, has circulated a number of memos on EPA letterhead disputing EPA’s air quality assurances. EPA has to date not refuted her allegations, but we understand they intend to do so in the near fiiture and plan to announce an EPA task force next week.. The City should consider asking a blue ribbon panel of health

NYC-WTC_000147374