Memo regarding EPA-DEP air quality survey findings, July 2003

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

Excerpts from Background Section of the Draft Report

Early Response

Various circumstances complicated the Government’s and EPA’s ability to respond to environmental concerns in what was an unprecedented and extremely difficult situation. The New York City Office of Emergency Management’s Emergency Operations Center was destroyed in the attacks. EPA’s Region 2 office, about a half-mile from the WTC site, was evacuated and not re-opened until 2 weeks after the attacks. Electrical power was lost in Lower Manhattan, as well as radiov.and telephones-and-sateHite-communications. Further, transportation to Lower Manhattan was halted, as well as restrieted-and commercial air travel was-halted-nationwide.

As with most disasters, local authorities were the first responders. “Ground Zero,’’ as the seven-building WTC area site would become known, was initially a search and rescue effort under the direction of the Fire Department of New York and, subsequently, a recovery operation under the jurisdiction of the New York City Office of Emergency Management. During the recovery phase, whioh-began NovembeMT^OOl-rthe New York City Department of Design and Construction and the Fire Department of New York were co-incident commanders. According to New York City’s Deputy Assistant Chief of the Fire Department, “the complexity of the activity performed at one site - rescue, recovery, demolition, and construction - at one time is unprecedented.” This unprecedented complexity is evidenced by the fact that the New York City Office of Emergency Management immediately undertook to coordinate the response efforts of approximately 150 City, State and Federal agencies. Initial meetings were held to request assistance from State and Federal agencies, including the EPA and to set procedures for coordination and accomplishment of various tasks. Immediate response actions to save lives-and meet basic human needs took precedence over other considerations, such as characterizing the-site’s environmental conditions. Further complicating the situation was the fact that the area was treated as a crime scene, with law enforcement authorities strictly limiting access for agencies such as the EPA for enlv-the first day or two, a few days. EPA access to the si-te-was impeded for only the first-day or two..

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