Environmental Health and Safety Plan draft for Staten Island Landfill,

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

Staten Island Landfill Debris Disposal Operation Health and Safety Program

accumulate in the structures and therefore creates a need for continuous monitoring. Continuous LEL/Hydrogen Sulfide monitors will be installed in all operational structures on the top of the landfill. Additionally, onsite workers should be aware that hydrogen sulfide, methane/carbon dioxide (landfill gas mixture) could accumulate in low-lying areas of the landfill. Care should be taken when working in low lying areas and monitoring should be conducted especially when air circulation is minimal.

4.3 CHEMICAL HAZARDS

4.3.1 Asbestos

Asbestos has been detected in both bulk dust samples and air samples at Ground Zero. As of Octobers, 2001, the USEPA and OSHA collected 177 bulk dust and debris samples and had them analyzed for asbestos content, and 48 samples contained over 1 percent asbestos by visual estimation. As a result, the potential of exposure to workers exposed to particulate debris may be a potential concern. Unfortunately, the non-homogeneous characteristics of the waste stream will make it very difficult to conduct a negative exposure assessment since the composition of the waste stream may change daily, depending on the characteristics of the materials.

Although the City and the State of New York maintain asbestos management programs for the proper identification, removal, disposal, and air monitoring of asbestos projects by licensed firms and individuals, it is clear that the elements surrounding this disaster will not provide for traditional management techniques. The standards were designated to address the identification and removal of “in-place” asbestos containing materials (ACM). The primary concern of this plan is to assess exposure of workers to potential asbestos-containing debris. PPE and engineering controls will be used to minimize potential worker exposure and personnel air monitoring should be conducted to assess PPE effectiveness.

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