Draft article on residential cleanup extension, Oct 2002

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

- Lower Marrhattan Public Information Campaign Page 2 of2

the data up so everyone can follow along with us as we learn," said Stapleton. The first test results were announced at a press conference on October 22, and aggregate test results will be updated weekly on the EPA website <http://www.epa.gov/factsheets/clean_test_results.htm >. Test results for individual residents will be provided only to residents of the affected units, and individual test results will be mailed four to six weeks from the date of testing.

The testing process itself could continue to evolve as more apartments are tested and as more results become known. According to agency officials, modifications to the program - both in terms of testing for more contaminants, such as lead, mercury and dioxins, and expanding the testing area - could be made in the future. "We are concerned right now with what levels we find, and where we find those levels," said Stapleton. "If we find that the level of contamination is of concern, or that it is widespread beyond the immediate surrounds of ground zero, we will reconsider expanding the boundaries of the assistance area."

Surprisingly, the greatest challenge faced by the EPA so far in the indoor cleanup project has been scheduling the cleanup itself. "Given the outcry for assistance, we were prepared for a deluge of calls from residents saying, 'I want to be first,'" said Stapleton. Instead, contractors have struggled to set up testing for those who have requested it, finding people too busy to commit to appointment times. In some cases, contractors have arrived for scheduled cleanups only to find no one home. "It never occurred to us that we would be in the situation of having contractors sitting idle because they can't schedule appointments," said Stapleton. In an attempt to streamline the process, officials are developing new policies regarding scheduling and cancellation, and expect to post them on the EPA website <https://nyrpub.epa.gov/NYRDUST2/dustcleanup/form.html > by week's end.

Lower Manhattan residents who have yet to register for testing are strongly encouraged to do so. According to EPA estimates, the 6,000 registered apartments represent only about a quarter of more than 20,000 eligible residences within the testing area. For residents south of Pike and Canal Streets who have not applied, requests will be accepted luitil December 28,2002 via the EPA website <https://nyrpub.epa.gov/NYRDUST2/dustcleanup/form.html >, or by calling the EPA's WTC hotline at (877) 796-5471.

3/24/2003

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