DEP activities memo regarding WTC cleanup coordination, undated

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

Department of Environmental Protection’s WTC Chronological History

• Initial response to Ground Zero by the Division of Emergency Response and Technical Assessment (Hazmat).

• DEP Hazmat took over first response activities in conjunction with the Fire Department who lost a significant number of Hazmat employees responding to the incident.

• DEP Hazmat performed entries into ground zero and beneath the World Trade Center. These confined space entries involved performing monitoring and assessment of atmospheric conditions at subsurface levels.

• On September 12, DEP began operating a network of outdoor (or “ambient”) fixed air monitors that have been used to date for monitoring asbestos levels. Air sampling activities included the outer boroughs through 10/12/01, and included in front of four schools in the vicinity of the WTC site.

• DEP worked daily with EPA, NYSDOH, NYSDEC and its sister agencies with respect to the clean-up activities and results of air sampling in and around ground zero.

• DEP established a 12-hour hotline on 9/12/01 to provide assistance to building owners, tenants, contractors, and consultants, through 11/12/01.

• DEP conducted site inspections and distributed clean-up protocols to building owners through October 2001.

• To date, DEP has conducted exterior inspections of almost 1,000 buildings, river to river, North to Reade Street.

• Asa result of complaints received by the agency, DEP has responded to 174 locations. In only one instance, has DEP ordered an asbestos abatement clean-up.

• To date, we have received over 120,000 indoor air samples from building owners in the affected area. Only 197 samples have been above the TEM level of 70s/mm^.

• In early April after numerous public hearings, including the February 11*** hearing conducted by Senators Clinton and Lieberman, Commissioner Ward commenced negotiations with EPA to begin to formulate a comprehensive plan that would restore public confidence in Lower Manhattan.

• On Wednesday, May 14,2002, EPA took the lead at a press conference to aimounce a comprehensive program developed with DEP and FEMA.

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