Draft proposal for Lower Manhattan environmental task force, February 2002

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

*** DRAFT *** Proposal for Lower Manhattan Environmental Task Force The Mayor has asked that OEM spearhead a task force of agencies with expertise on environmental, health, and safety matters to build confidence and to coordinate public information efforts about the status of Low er Manhattan.

Broad Proposal Tlie public will be most reassured when the City speaks w ith one voice about conditions in lower Manhattan. A false perception exists that the City is not doing much on emironmental matters there. OEM will lead a task force of City agencies involved with the various aspects of WTC recovery/r ebuilding efforts, along the lines of the task forces for West Nile Virus Prevention/Control and the Rodent Control.

Focus/Mission Titis task force w ould primarily focus on environmental and health issues. Related lower Manhattan matters w ould be referred to .Andy Salkin (construction'utility/street activities) and to Josh Sirefman (economic development activities) as appropriate.

The mission of the task force would be to actively, rather than defensively • coordinate low er Manhattan environmental and health activities among relevant agencies • disseminate a consistent message in various forums to City agencies, other governmental entities, the press, and the public • quickly establish a hotline for all lower Manhattan environmental and health matters • serve as a clearinghouse for env ironmental monitoring data and share it with the public in terms understandable to a lay person • determine how best to refiite misleading data from EPA scientist • serve as a liaison with state and federal agencies and elected officials • inform the deputy mayors of critical issues and decisions

Public Face of the Task Force A primary goal of this effot is to reassure residents, business owners, and workers that it is safe to live and work downtown, that the City has done appropriate testing/inspecting/enforcing, and that we are aware of the activities of other governmental entities and are working with them. It seems therefore appropriate that our Deputy Mayor for Economic Development should be the face of this confidence-building initiative. • Kickoff event with the Mayor, Sen. Clinton, D/M Doctoroff • Follow-up pronouncements from D/M Doctoroff • Call upon commissioners of OEM, Health, DEP as necessary

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