DEP public affairs fax cover sheet with inquiry questions, Feb

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document r FEB-04-2002 10:52 NYC D.E.P. PLIBLIC AFFAIRS P.02Z02 r'

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TODAY 7950 Jones Branch Drive * McLean. Virginia 22108 (703)854-3400

Febnaiy 1,2002

Natalie Millner, public affiuis New YorkDqparanent of BnviraBOient^ Protection

Dear Ms. Milber

Thank you for your help with my story. Hew are my questions. - Has D£P done any indoor tesdag of air or dust for asbestos? / - If not, why not? Ifyou have, did it starttrnd why did jt take $0 long to eonmeace?^'- - If you have data on asbestos in indoor air andZor dust, is it publicly available? ' • The EPA says that soon after Sept. 11, the responsibility for indoor-air testing was passed to the city. Do you agree with that version of events? - Does DEP have the same expertise and dQrth of staff ±at EPA does when it comes to testing indoor air? - According to some outside observers, the city didn’t want EPA to have a role in indoor tests for asbestos, Do you disagree? - If you do test for asbestos iadoors, which protocol or methodology do you use? TEM? PCM? EPA Level n? Which method for testing dust? Does the department sanction the use of miorovacuum casettes? - The Washington Post quoted a DEP spokesman as rejecting the results of asbestos tests performed for the New York Environment^ Law and Justice Project Why? Which other methodologies would you accept? - Many residents of lower Manhattan are unhappy with the dean-up guidance the city has provided. They say that early on, the city told them to clean their apartments with wet rags, despite not knowing the levels. of asbestos io their apartments. What’s yoUr response? - Even DOW, people are moving back into apartments that haven’t been professionally tested or cleaned. What's the health risk from asbestos to those people? 1 look forward to hearing from you.

Siacewly,

Znai Watson, environmental reporter USA today

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