FEMA approval of WTC economic statistics document, June 2002

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

DRAFT-6/6/03 6/7/02

[DATE]

Mr. Brad Gair Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) 26 Federal Plaza New York, New York 10278

Dear Mr. Gair:

The collapse of the World Trade Center (WTC) towers on September 11, 2001 resulted in the depositing of dust and debris on and/or in many buildings in lower Manhattan. Recent inspections of building exteriors near the WTC site revealed that, while many of the buildings are now free of debris, other buildings still have visible deposits of material from the WTC collapse.

The City of New York believes that it is in the public interest to remove this material from the exterior of buildings in the vicinity of the WTC site. Samples collected during the inspections indicate that asbestos may be present in some of the debris. Long-term exposure to elevated levels of airborne asbestos can, in certain circumstances, cause health-related problems. The removal of this material will thereby protect against any adverse effects on air quality or public health and safety.

In addition to removal of debris from building exteriors, area residents have expressed concerns about the possible presence of debris or dust in their homes, which is perceived as a health concern. While some interior spaces have been cleaned by building owners or residents, others have not. The City believes that it is also in the public interest to institute a program of cleaning interior residential spaces, to prevent asbestos (if present) from becoming airborne, and to provide assurance to residents that their concerns are being addressed.

By any measure, the events of September 11 have had a major negative impact on the City’s economy in general, and on Lower Manhattan in particular. The City is forecasting a decrease in tax revenues of more than $3.1 Billion between August 2001 and April 2002, of which at least $650 Million is directly attributable to the events of September 11, including destruction of real property, closure of businesses, and a decline in tourism and tourism-related industries. The attacks on the World Trade center destroyed or damaged nearly 30 million square feet of office space, or almost 30% of the Class A space available downtown. Perhaps, most importantly, residential occupancy rates fell dramatically following the attack, by almost 40%, leaving Lower Manhattan without much of its vital 24-hour community.

Lower Manhattan is the financial capital of the world, and its revival is therefore critical not only to the City but to the nation as a whole. Anectodal evidence suggests that confidence in the area’s environmental safety - especially with regards to its air quality - is a primary concern for many

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