New York Times article on EPA contaminant testing, Aug 2002

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

METRO WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 7, 2002

C I T V

U.S. to Test for Contaminants 1

. V In250Downtown Apartments By BARBARA STEWART gin in September, the agency Scdd.

BW The federal Environmental Pro- AU residents south of Canal and Pike tection Agency announced plans yes- Lower Manhattan are di­ terday to test for dioxins and toxic landlords who want metals in a sampling of Lower Man- buUdlngs’ common ^as,j- hattan apartments whose. Interiors loobies halls and rorrid^., r- were coated with ash and dust from cleaned and tested. The E.PX ,is the World Trade Center's collapse. ac^pting requests until Sept 3. ; E^y J The agency said the testing, along with the asbestos cleanup and testing The E.P.A.’s May announcement an asbestos cleanup program was program announced in May, wiU be abrupt reversal of the federal the largest cleanup in its’ history. government’s earlier stance that •4- “We’ve talked to scientists and cleanups of private indoor spaces experts and doctors and community were the responsibility of residents i :' groups and tenants’ groups,’’ an ood landlords. Tenants’ groups and Justin Lane tor The New York Times agency official said. “We feel — and politicians had demanded that ^e scientists agree — that we need to E.PA and other federal agencies lan Jr. handed out fliers yesterday at a act now and not spend months or take on the job. But now that it has, Parkway. His challenger, Sandra Roper, years studying the situation.” a relatively few residents in the preme Court buildup in Brooklyn. The agency plans to test 250 apart- approximately 20,000 eligible apart­ ments for dioxins and toxic metals ments have asked for the work. ,, like lead and mercury. Those apart- The reasons for refusing run .me ments wiU be randomly chosen from “whole gamut,” the agency offici^ the approximately 3,600 apartments said. “Some say, 'It’s very clean;’I whose residents have requested as- know it is,’.” she said. “Others don’t bestos cleaning and testing. An addi- trust the government to be insijie tional 1,000 apartments will be tested their homes.”___ .,h A for asbestos at the residents’ request ’The agency says ordinary home fl and cleaned only if their levels ex- (cleaning cannot remove asbestos// ceed federal standards. ‘(toxic metals or dioxins. Specialized The agency said that if tests indi- Cleaning agents and vacuums ,are cated unacceptably high levels of required. Crevices or wider areas dioxins and toxic metals, the apart- with thick coatings of dust will be I ments would be cleaned and an ex- plated with plastic shields and ex­ i pansion of tests and cleanups would pies taken for testing. Particularly be considered. The cost of a laborato- dusty apartments will be cordoned ry analysis of dioxins is three times »ff and the residents moved out until that of an asbestos analysis. cleaning is completed. After- All testing and cleaning should be- wBrd, the air will be rested. . ."' .

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