NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document WV V
L»c.r r OA I vx I V
Preliminary Report on the II&S Evaluation of the Fresh Kills Landnn Project
Supporting the VVTC Disaster Recovery
TNTRODUCTrON;
On 27 September, 2001, representatives of Emilcott Associates, Inc. (Dale Wilson, CIII,
Doug Ogden and Bruce Groves, CIH) conducted a walkthrough survey of the Fresh Kill
Landfill operation supporting the WTC disaster. Emilcott was asked by the NYPD
Detectives Endowment Association (DEA) to conducted a 3’^ party evaluation of the
operation to identify areas that may impact the health and safhiy of the NYPD detectives
working at the landfill.
Emileott recognizes that this is an emergency operation responding to a horrific disaster
where many lives have been lost Overall, we were highly impressed and humbled by
the energy and willingness of all personnel involved in this operation to g« the job done
and to do the right thing. Everyone also showed (hdr commitment to make continual
improvements in the health and safely procedures of the operation to; improve the quality
of life for the people onsite; follow good health and safety practices; and meet basic
compliance to health and safety regulations and requirements. Ilie cooperation displayed
by all members of the NYPD and other agencies we spoke with was extraordinary.
The comments and recommendations presented below focus on items that need
immediate attention and are designed to make the greatest improvements to the health
and safety program ofNYPD personnel working at this operation.
S&
1. Personal air sampling of FBI agents performing similar tasks to NYPD personnel
(raking debris) showed asbestos levels greater than tite OSHA Pcrnusstble
Exposure Level -PEL (0.1 fibers/cc - for an 8-hour period or 0.067 fibcrs/cc fore
I2“hour p«iod). Twenty-one (21) personnel air samples for asbestos were taken
by Public Health Service (PHS) industrial hygienists. Twelve (57%) of these
samples had results greater then the OSHA 12-hour PEL (permissible exposure
limit) for asbestos. The samples were taken on 18 and 19 September and the
results were reported to the FBI on 25 September, but not given to the NYPD
until Emilcott s review on 27 September 2001.
This data underscores the fact that this debris has the potential to produce
significant asbestos exposures.
There has been no exposure assessment (air sampling) data that can determine the
expected exposures to asbestos, dust, and other coniarainants to the NYPD
detectives perfonning the various tasks in this operation. Emilcott conducted six
four-hour air samples (NYPD personnel and area samples) for asbestos on 27
September. The results ranged from non-detected to 33% of tire 12-hour OSHA
PEL.
NYC-WTC_OOOT5O238
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