New York Times article on EPA contaminant testing, Aug 2002

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§ ( “□ I c o 8TATEN ISLAND ADVANCE ■ WEDNESDAY/AUGUST 7,2002 ' I-*. A 51J CT o f o' tn CD -r^ THE BLAND ' -D o 3. « 9L O . o : EPA outlines residential cleanup plans for lower Manhattan II-' L ‘ c 3 o

CD 3 I ■ GOVemmont Environmental' Protection cess still remain unanswered,'’she Eight contractors will perform through the Red Cross. “They're being very simplistic ' t u ' - Agency officials said they agreed said. the work, which could begin as Residents and environmental about this and not basing it on sd- • agencies naV9 . to the unprecedented indoor Samples of the dust that settled soon as nexi month and last about advocates have pushed for testing ence," she said. ' I rinwnnlawerl anv ' cleanup for any downtown resi- after the trade center collapse one year. to be conducted before the She complained the plan failed I. \ ; uuwiipiciycu any ; • dent who wants it mostly to calm Sept 11 show varying amounts of Under the EPA plan, a crew cleanup as well as afterward, wor- to test for other toxins like PCBs health risk from ’ lingering fears. The EPA and asliestos, fiberglass and caustic would enter a residence and de-' ried about the accuracy of a visual andmercury. i - > *1 *k other government agencies have concrete powder. termine which level of cleanup is inspection alone. There have also Hundredsofworkershavere- the oust in tnoarOR . downplayed any health risk from EPA officials yesterday would appropriate given the amount of been concerns of cross-contamina- ported respiratory ailments and I: 4- ; the dust, saying tests have shown not place a price tag on the dust and other debris. tion in buildings in which some other problems after cleaning ; the asbestos did not reach hazard- cleanup effort, which will be free Once the cleanup is complete, apartment residents chose to un- dust-laden offices and apartments , By SHANNON MCCAFFREY ous levels. j for residents, because they do not the resident could determine how dergo cleanups and others do not. < soon after Sept 11. Those laborers ASSOCIATED PBEss gyj crillcs havu complained know how many residents will aggressive the follow-up testing Building common areas and face a slightly elevated risk of as- ’ that the EPA has ta^en too long to take advantage of it should be. Those residents who heating, ventilation and air condi- bestos-related cancer in coming / WASHINGTON — Almost one initiate the cleanup and that resi- But industry officials said pro- seek the most aggressive asbestos tion systems can be cleaned if decades, scientists said. year after the World Trade Center dents and others have already fessional asbestos abatement testing — in which a 1-horsepower building owners or managers re- The cleanup is available to collapse coated much of lower been exposed to the asbestos for 11 could cost an average of $4,000 per laaf blower will stir up any re- quest it under the EPA plan those who live south of Canal,> Manhattan in asbestos-laced dust months. They attacked the plan apartment maining dust — must leave their Dr. Marjorie Clark, of the 011 Allen and Pike streets. Businesses and debris, federal environmental yesterday as inadequate. The EPA provided its plan yes- apartments for 48 hours. Housing Environmental Action Group, are not eligible for the federal officials yesterday deUiled plana . Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D- terday to New York City officials assistance will be available called the plan “a crime." cleanup. < to clean and test up to 38,000 resi-. N.Y., called tt “late ip coming." who will review it and put con- ..... ' 1 deuces. , “Many questions ^ut the pro- . tracts for the work Qut to bid. .4iab<*.tfU ak'M