Memo on vehicle release from Ground Zero, Jan 2002

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

1-24-02512:3OPM;nyc Law Department ; 121 i o < oo **• । vu JftN-22-2002 29:50 aSEP UNIT RM- 7345 202 324 9235 P.12/43 Industrial Hygiene Survey Federal Bureau of Investigation, Staten Island, NY

5.0 Findings

Air sampling for metals, volatile organic compounds and ctysMHne silica was performed during the early phase of the project. The levels of metals incluciing lead, silica dust, and volatile organic compounds were negligible. Sampling for these contaminants was discontinued in October. Sampling for asbestos in air has continued throughout the project

The data for each air or bulk sample is provided in tij^^gMdsheets in appendix A of this report Those samples taken at the landfill are indicated un^^^iocation column. Limited sampling It was conducted in September at the World Trade Center cleanup site in September. This was discontinued when FBI moved all evidence collection activity to the Landfill. Field blanks indicated in the location section indicate a quality control sample that verifies that the sample media was handled, shipped, prepared and analyzed without introducing contamination. The top of each table indicates the type of sample, which is as follows: asbestos bulks; asbestos air area; asbestos air personal; air samples for metals; air samples for volatile organic compounds. The following summarizes the sample data:

Asbestos Bulk Samples

Landfill Debris Bulk samples at the landfill were taken from the dust and debris that is dumped into the screeners and onto the ground for searching. The four bulk samples analyzed to date were all found to have less than 1 % asbestos. Two of the samples had detectable levels of chrysotile asbestos using TEM but it was not possible to quantify. The only bulk sample found to have over 1 % chrysotile asbestos was taken from the ground on Church street at the Trade Center tower collapse area. The EFA reported taking 10 bulk samples at the Staten Island landfill and found them all to have less than 1 % asbestos. Under the State of New York, and Federal regulations, the debris at the landfill is not considered regulated asbestos containing material. Given the fact that a number of bulk samples taken by the EPA as well as other agencies in the ground zero area have been found to have over 1 % chrysotile asbestos. It is likely that some debris arriving at the landfill contain over 1% asbestos.

Debris on Cars The FBI and New York City Police (NYPD) are inspecting each vehicle removed from the World Trade Center Disaster site. The vehicles were located on the streets around the buildings ! during the collapse. As a result all of the vehicles were covered with dust and debris from the buildings. In many cases the windows on the cars were broken allowing dust and debris to settle on surfaces inside the car. All of the cars and trucks were removed from the Trade Center site and transported to the landfill. The cars were stored in a large lot at the landfill, which is under the control of the FBI, NYPD, and NY City Department of Sanitation. The FBI and NYPD inspect every car for evidence, which requires entering the vehicle and inspecting the entire interior as well as inspecting the exterior. Because workers must come in direct contact with the surfaces of the vehicles, and with the debris, workers raised a concern of potential asbestos contamination. Four samples of debris were taken from four cars to determine the level of asbestos contamination.

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