EPA letter outlining indoor air objectives and schedule, April 2002

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document I

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Lead: NYC Primary Assistance: EPA, NYCDOH __________ ___ Schedule: ASAP, April _ ------- --- - ----------------------------

Identification of Scientific Advisors Scientific advisors should be identified to provide advice and counsel to NYC in developing approaches on assessing and cleaning indoor environments. A mechanism will need to be established to compensate the advisors. Lead: NYC Primajy Assistance; EPA, NYC Schedule: ASAP, April

EPA Peer Review/Consultation EPA is identifying a highly respected technical firm which would assist in identifying eminently qualified scientists to conduct peer review and consultation on a variety of aspects of indoor air issues such as establishing contaminants of concern and benchmarks, determining cleaning z techniques and selecting analytical techniques. Lead: EPA Primary Assistance: NYCDOH Schedule: ASAP, April

Development of Contaminants-of-Concerns and Benchmarks The EPA task force is developing a preliminary list of contaminants that are related to the WTC disaster that may still present a concern in residential indoor environments. The task force is also developing criteria that will be used to determine benchmark levels of these compounds which would reflect within reasonable expectation a return to levels that existed before the WTC attack-eqilapse and therefore reasonable assurance that these contaminants do not pose long-term healmris) through the indoor environment. LealEP. Primaty-/ ssistance: NYCDOH, NYSDOH. NYSDEC, ATSDR Schedule: Preliminary list will be done by April 30,2002. Final list will not be developed until completion of background study and completion of peer review.

Study of Background Levels of Contaminants-of-Concem To better evaluate what are significant levels of contamin^ts-of-concem, EPA and NYCDOH are undertaking a study to establish what may be considered pre-existing levels of these compounds in a NYC indoor environment. This study will involve collection of samples in residential locations unaffected by the WTC-dust. Since the results from this study are needed as quickly as possible, we are planning on conducting a limited study, nonetheless, it should provide useful information for developing final screening criteria. A literature review is also underway to determine if there is existing background urban data for the contaminants-of- concern. The EPA and ATSDR request for this effort has recently been submitted to FEMA. NYCDOH needs to expeditiously submit its request for funding for this project since NYCDOH is tire agency responsible for obtaining access to the background locations and informing residents of the results.

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