Fax re EP hearing attendees and questions, Feb 2002

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document Tuesday 12 of Feb 2002, Mayor Office ->718 595 4544 Page 4 of !•

7. Dr. Levin of Mt. Sinai testified that residents “downwind” (i.e., east of Broadway) are vulnerable to dangerous air because the wind blows from west to east? To what extent does the wind direction and speed affect the air quality? Do you agree with Dr. Levin's assessment?

8. Dr. Stephen Levin testified that aThough there are few studies of synergistic effects of these contaminants, a well-know study indicates the risk of cancer “multiplies” as a result of exposure' to both cigarette smoke and asbestos. He concluded it is not unreasonable to assume that the exposure in this “complex environment” might have “some multiplicative effects.” Do you agree with that conclusion? Regardless, should we develop more conservative assumptions about the health risks and test accordingly? What progress has been made to test for synergistic effects?

9. Tlie Washi:igton Post reported that four Port Authority police officers were reassigned from the site after they tested positive for elevated mercury levels in their blood. Can you comment on this?

10. EPA testified that in its testing, that the agency (or any other agency) has not tried to distinguish between those pollutants emanating from the fire and the debris of the World Trade Center and those resulting from the heavy machinery and diesel engine tnicks being used in the recoveiy’ operation. Have efforts begun to distinguish between these pollutants?

11. For Boston’s “Big Dig,” a commitment w'as made to minimize diesel emissions. What progress has been made to mitigate the impact of the diesel engines at the WTC site?

12. While there was testimony from a representative of DOH that the agency is developing a central medical registry for rescue and recovery workers at the WTC site, the Committee report recommended that the registry should also include residents of the WTC area, others who work in the area and students of the many schools in the area with health complaints, within specific geographic boundaries to be established by the agency. Has DOH expanded this registry to include all these groups? Will it do so and what geographic areas will it include?

13. At the Committee hearing in November, your agency testified that contaminants have been tested as being at acceptable levels? Do you find Be assessments of tlie EPA National Ombudsman and testimony such as D" Lt yuf s to be incoirect?

14. The WTC Emergency Environmental Group recommended checks by independent third parties to ensure testing accuracy. The group claimed discrepancies in testing results between EPA’s and those of independent testers at Stujwesant High School and Washington Market Park confirm the need for independent third party checks. The Washington Post reported that environmental experts claim the EPA “was too quick to interpret a few test results as a clean bill of health.” Given these

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