HVAC cleanup proposal for residential units, Feb 2003

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

K Remarks of Regional Administrator Jane Kenny Announcement of Lower Manhattan Apartment Cleanup Plan Wednesday, May 8,2002

Good afternoon. We stand here just a few blocks away from Ground Zero - a reminder that for the people of the agency I represent, along with so many residents of Lower Manhattan, September 11 was a very personal tragedy.

Indeed, while September 11 changed all our lives, this is especially true for those who work, go to school, and live in Lower Manhattan. And for many, the emotions we shared that day were compounded by the literal fallout from the World Trade Center disaster. The debris that shrouded Lower Manhattan made its way onto rooftops and ledges and into apartments and other indoor spaces.

While the scientific data about any immediate health risks from indoor air is reassuring, people should not have to live with uncertainty about their futures. Most residents had their homes cleaned, but many have ongoing concerns about the dust that may still lurk on their floors and window ledges. This cannot continue. No one should have to live with anxiety about the safety of the air in their own homes.

That is why I am joined here today by EPA's partners in federal, state and city government, who have been working together since September 11 and more recently on Governor Whitman's Task Force on Indoor Air. We understand the concerns of Lower Manhattan residents and we know that they are looking to us for reassurance. While we cannot imdo the events of September 11, we can provide the assurance that people's homes have been cleaned properly. And we can do so by combining the expertise and resources of our partners.

I am pleased to annoimce a truly unprecedented effort to assist the people of Lower Manhattan. EPA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and the city of New York are launching a comprehensive plan to ensure that all residential units from Canal Street south, river to river, have been properly cleaned.

At each resident's individual request, EPA will use city-certified contractors to clean the apartment and then will follow up by testing for asbestos in the indoor air. Residents who decide they do not want a cleanup can still request that EPA test for asbestos in the indoor air. Again, with the help of FEMA resources, this service will be available to every resident from Canal Street south. We will make every effort to set up a hotline by the end of the month to handle requests.

What's more, knowing that many residents will want to tackle the cleanups themselves, we will distribute detailed guidance and provide HEPA-filter vacuum cleaners to help them. The members of the Task Force are confident that the methods recommended for cleaning - which include wet wiping, wet mopping, and HEPA-filter vacuuming - are effective in minimizing long-term health risks. These methods will also reduce particulates and fiberglass and help bring relief to those who are especially sensitive to these irritants.

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