EPA letter on WTC relocation funding program, Oct 2002

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY O t _____ A % region 2 X VW 290 BROADWAY NEWYORK, NY 10007-1866 • • O.-

OCT 1 0 2002 CCf /5 p 2:.

Christopher Ward Commissioner New York City Department of Environmental Protection 59-17 Junction Boulevard Flushing, New York 11373-5108

Dear Commissiojrer Ward:

I am in receipt of your August 23 letter regarding the Indoor Air Residential Assistance Program. Needless to say, I appreciate the concern that you expressed about securing funding for relocation costs and replacement of fabric furnishings. Adequate funding to cover these expenses is essential to the Residential Assistance program. To that end, my staff worked intensively with the Red Cross during the weeks of August 21 through September 3,2002 to finalize a support program. I am extremely pleased that EPA and the Red Cross representatives were able to work cooperatively to establish a program.

The Red Cross volunteered to offer assistance to participants in our Residential Assistance Program, and I commend the Red Cross for its leadership. The Red Cross worked closely with EPA to resolve issues of concern and to put in place a detailed program in time to be available for the initial cleanup actions, which began with the award of the contracts by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYCDEP).

I also want to congratulate your NYCDEP staff for their excellent work in the contract bidding and award process. Thanks to their diligent efforts, we were able to begin work with the city’s contractors to enable cleanup and testing to begin on September 12. This was supplemented by EPA contractors who began testing on August 22,2002.

However, I wish to be clear for the record that our staffs worked together closely to develop the Indoor Air Residential Assistance Program. NYCDEP’s decision about contract structure proceeded with a unit pricing approach for cleanup; FEMA agreed, and, subsequently, EPA staff worked very closely with NYCDEP staff to develop the scopes of work for the cleanup and testing program. Both of our agencies have also worked closely with FEMA to identify funding projections on the various aspects of the Indoor Residential Assistance Program. While Mayor Bloomberg requested that EPA act as the lead agency on indoor air and dust/debris cleanup issues related to residential spaces, we continue to work jointly with FEMA and New York City to implement a comprehensive program to address residual dust/debris. This is consistent with the manner in which we have worked since 9/11/01; all involved agencies coordinate their efforts through FEMA, consistent with the provisions of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief Act (the Stafford Act). This approach assures that each involved agency contributes skills, expertise and time in an efficient, coordinated manner.

Internet Address (URL) • http7/www,epa.gov Reeycled/Recyclable • Printed with Vegetable Oil Based Inks on Recycled Paper (Minimum 50% Postconsumer content)

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