DEP guidance on public hotline and asbestos protocols, undated

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

NYC and EPA to assure the public who calls in get properly directed based upon the nature of their questions or concerns. [Should consider consolidating into a single hotline. ] vf-o The assistance will include the following options: a) Cleaning within apartments and building common open spaces, followed by air asbestos testing, using trained asbestos abatement contractors. [As worded, this statement indicates that non-professional cleaning, as recommended, was inadequate.] Based on existing data evaluated by OSHA during lower Manhattan indoor clean-ups, OSHA will under appropriate circumstances make a determination (negative risk assessment) that these contractors will not be required to use protective clothing or gear. An oversight function will be designed to assure that if an unexpected situation is confronted, there will be further determination with OSHA support of whether protective clothing and gear is warranted. In such a case the cleaning will be done using appropriate personal protective equipment. b) Testing for airborne asbestos within residences or building areas. Should testing results identify an airborne asbestos problem, arrangements can be made rapidly to have professional clean up done. [If limited to airborne asbestos, then ------ sampling needs to be by “aggressive” methods. I don’t think agressive sampling is done in occupied apartments. Can someone check this. Suggest expanding beyond airborne asbestos and include loading data.] c) Providing HEPA vacuums to residences who request to perform their own cleaning on an ongoing basis. Projected Cost: Needs to be determined. (The March 11 broad mission assignment submittal was for $80 million based upon a gross estimate of 5,000 apartments requesting clean up and post testing.) Vacuums costs approximately $400/each. Apartment cleaning with trained contractors is approximately $14,000/apartment. Testing for asbestos is approximately $3,000/apartment. Commercial space cleaning and testing is $6-8 /sq. foot. Total costs will not be available until the information campaign is complete and EPA can determine the extent of what will be required. Status of Request for FEMA mission assignment: Awaiting initial FEMA feedback.

3A. Establishing Benchmarks for Potential Contaminants of Concern Using indoor air and bulk sampling test data collected in New York City since 9/11, as well as historic information on contaminants that occur following the collapse of a building and as a result of prolonged fires, EPA will determine what substances pose a potential health risk in lower Manhattan due to the WTC collapse and subsequent fires. EPA will establish benchmarks for each potential contaminant of concern taking into account the background level of each substance. Potential contaminants may be removed from further consideration provided either there is no evidence that a substance exists at a level of concern or if the cleaning pilot demonstrates that wet wiping/mopping and HEPA vacuuming by non-professionals is safe and effective in removing that substance.

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