DEP activities memo regarding WTC cleanup coordination, undated

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

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TO: Michael Gilsenan Assistant G lissioner, BEG

FROM: Moustafa Fawzy Director, DERj^^z^ *

DATE: October 24,2001

RE: Summary of DERTA actions at World Trade Genter Attack

On September 11,2001, the Division of Emergency Response and Technical Assessment (DERTA) was notified by the DEP G»irniiHiir ication Genter of a plane crashing into tike World Trade Genter. First Deputy Commissioner Chapin placed the notification to DEP Cc ications and requested DERTA to rThThTsdiately re^ond to the location. DERTA’s First Responders comprising it’s Hazardous Materials Specialists and support team were iThThTsdiately dispatched to the location.

upon arrival both Towers had been attacked and were burning. At the moment of collapse ofthe South Tower, DERTA personnel attempted to escape the impact area. During this period members ofthe Division were trapped and missing. However, within 2 hours ofthe collapses, these enployees found their way from the tmderground areas from where they were trapped and resurfaced alerting the Team that they were alive.

At this time, the first response capabilities of the HazMat Specialists and Support members were fiilly activated. The DERTA team utilized aH resources available. The Hazardous Materi^s Mobile Laboratory was dispatched to the location. DERTA members were mobilizang and preparing to conduct an immediate and detailed technical assessment of die areas impacted by die debris produced from the collapse of die Towers. The Division conducted this assessment by preparing a representative sanqiling scheme ofthe areas affected and for those potentially affected by the impact. The Team then performed visual inspections and conducted bulk sampling and air monitoring of public areas. (It wasestabli^hed atthe onseLofthe incident thatrthe debris contained high percentage ofasbestos. As per regulations, the debris was designated as AGM and recommendations for appropriate actions were made, hi addition to performiOHuUi-k assessments in public outdoor areas, the Division also conducted visual inflections and performed air monitoring in the interior of publicly owned buildings, including City Hall and it’s surrounding grounds. From September 11 through October all particulate sampling and subsequent analysis was conducted by the Hazardous Materials Laboratory under the direction of DERTA.

NYC-WTC_000148645