DEP Bureau of Air memo header, undated

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document • * ’•

** . jnN-02-2003 16:12 FROM US EPA REGION 2 ORC TO 917185954544 P.02

HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON Miwvem SSNaTOA duMiu. UNAn etoia: 6um<w WASMlNCraN. DC IMIS' UM Idnitd ^tatEB Renate WASHINGTON, DC 20510-3204

December 23,2002

The Honorable Christine Todd Vr^iitmen Administrator Environmental Protection Agency 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue Washington, D.C. 20460

- • -Dear AdiTOnxstrater-Whitman: • I am writing to request that residents in Lower Manhattan continue to be able to request that their apartments be cleaned and or tested as part of the ongoing World Trade Center indoor air testing and cleaning program. The current deadline for requesting such assistance is December 28, 2002. As the deadline approaches, I am beginning to receive requests from. constituents in Lower Manhattan that the deadline be extended.

I want to again express my appreciation to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the City of New York to establish this much needed program. I also want to thank the Agency for responding to requests that many of my colleagues and I made earlier this year to extend the program sign-up period through December 28,2002. Tins was an important step in ensuring tliat all ±056 affected by ±e destruction of ±e towers would have ±e opportunity to request EPA’s assistance in this regard.

I am concerned, however, that. EPA appears set on shutting down ±e sign-up component of the program on December 28,2002, despite ongoing efforts and discussions related to possible expansions or modifications of ±e program. According to EPA Region 2 _ AdTninistrator, Jane Kejmyjjampling efforts for nori'-asbestps contaminants still underway, as ” is ±e peer review o'f'a “contaminants of concern’* document. Also, many additional requests that others and I have made to modify ±e program are still “under review” according to Regional Administrator Kenny, including requests that; (1) ±e indoor air testing and cleaning program be expanded geographically, (2) that it be expanded to include small businesses, and (3) that it reimburse those residents who have already paid for the testing and cleaning of their apartments by professionals. These are all important components that still need to be added to ±e program. Since the cleanup and testing program is ongoing, tlis program infrastructure is already in place, and many unknowns about future expansion, or modification of the program still remain, the December 28,2002, closure date seems premature and unnecessary. The date is also arbilraiy and insensitive to residents who may still desire such assistance, but for whatever reason have not yet formally requested assistance from .ttie Agency.

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