Forwarded NYC.gov inquiry regarding WFA office coordination, Oct 2002

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

HILLARY RODHAM CUNTON NEW YORK. Tk , ‘ -SENATOR ’

lanitEd States Senate RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING SUITE 476 WASHINGTON. DC 20510-3204 202-224-4451

WASHINGTON, DC 20510-3204

August 13,2002

The Honorable Christine Todd Whitman The Honorable Michael R. Bloomberg Administrator Mayor Environmental Protection Agency The City of New York 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue New York, New York 10007 Washington, D.C. 20460

Dear Administrator Whitman and Mayor Sloomberg:

Thank you again for your continuing efforts regarding indoor air quality in-Lower Manhattan. The announcement that was made in May that a Federal government program will enable Lower Manhattan residents to get their apartments cleaned and tested was a very welcome step forward, and I appreciate your ongoing efforts in the development and implementation of this program. I am concerned, however, that many questions still remain, and that new questions have been raised by the scopes of work that were recently transmitted to the City.

In May, I wrote to you about the foremost concern of those who live, work, and have children who attend school in Lower Manhattan — that this program be conducted as part of an open and transparent process. In my letter, I urged you to engage both outside experts and the public as you moved forward with this program, including the possibility of holding public meetings. While your July 25,2002, response indicated that EPA had met with“outside experts^ am interested to know specifically what outside experts were consulted in formulating the scopes of work. I would also be interested to know if the World Trade Center Indoor Air Quality Task Force has formed any sort of advisory committee on this issue.

I was pleased to learn from your July 25 response that the Agency is in the process of developing“comprehensive community involvement plans" I would greatly appreciate receiving additional information about the plans, including when these plans will be completed and implemented, what the plans entail, and how input from the community will be incorporated into the testing/cleanup program as a result.

As you may know, there is ongoing concern about the general scope of the program, both geographically and in terms of the limitation of the program to residences. As you will recall, in May, I had expressed to you my hope that the program would be expanded to include small businesses around Ground Zero, and to reimburse those residents who have already paid for the cleaning of their apartments. In addition, I forwarded concerns regarding the omission of school facilities from this program. I appreciate Regional Administrator Jane Kennas willingness to meet with concerned parents about this issue in particular. I am anxious, however, to hear how

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