HVAC cleanup proposal for residential units, Feb 2003

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document D.C. Robert Avaltroni TEL:?18-595-4544 May 08 02 8:51 No.001 P.02

CfOod afternoon. I am pleased to be here today with the EPA and our federal,

state and city partners to announce the launch of a comprehensive program to allay

the fear.*! of Lower Manhattan residents concerned about pos.siblc asbestos

contamination in their homes caused by rhe collapse of the World Trade Chenier.

There arc-approximately 31,000 people living .south of C'anal St reet, and none of them

should have to live with concerns of the air they breathe. We arc gratified that FEM A,

through EPA and DEP, are providing emergency funding to allow residential

dwellings to be cleaned and tested for a,sbestos. While our work to date has found

minimal instances of asbestos in the buildings .surrounding Ground Zero, we arc

confident that the measure.^ announced today will help further reassure residents of

Lower Manhattan of the .safety of their living environment..

Immediately following the collapse of the Twin Towers, the City initiated

cleanup activities of streets, sidewalks, and exterior common areas with EPA. Since

September IT'', wc have established an air monitoring network in and around Ground

Zero to evaluate the ambient air quality on a continuing basis. Since January, DE?

inspectors have been conducting an assessment of building exteriors, ‘fo date,

approximately 800 buildings have been inspected to identify potent ial debiis from the

World Trade Center collap.se on rooftops and facades. Where we have found exterior

dcbri.s, it has formed into dense, cake-like deposits and in .small amounts, and causes no

significant risk to residents, workers or visitors. To ensure that it is cleaned up, and to

ensure that residual debris posts zero risk to human health, the City, with the

assistance of EPA, i.s in the process of cleaning up this material itself.

NYC-WTC_000148011