DEP Memo to City Council on WTC Matters

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

also stated that NYC would not be requesting Federal assistance for cleaning roof debris. Apparently, however, NYC officials continue to disagree with the characterizations of their statements presented in the EPA Report, insisting that the City welcomed any authorized federal assistance at that time. Please clarify the statements and provide copies of documents/statements authorizing or requesting federal assistance by City officials.

7. Why didn’t the City request the federal government to undertake the same type of extensive measures and steps for clean-up as the EPa undertook in Libby, Montana?

8. What role, if any, did the City administration have in authorizing and/or giving the “all clear” signal allowing Lower Manhattan residents, including children, to return to homes, workplaces and schools? What information did the City receive justifying this signal?

9 Did the City administration ever come to feel that it had a responsibility to act as a check and balance on the federal government with respect to environmental protection and the clean-up effort? If so, in what areas? Please provide documentation which reflects the City’s position.

10. Once the emergency period ended, did the City administration reassert full responsibility for ongoing environmental protection and clean-up? If so, when did this occur? Which City agencies played the lead role?

11. Whal City agencyw uiquired of the federal EPA as to the basis of the EPA’s decision to issue the aforesaid “all clear” signal? What City agency agreed or disagreed wrlhlhe"all clear inclusion? Wo specficially would the City administration expect to bear horn now to juslify issuing an all clear” signal in the event of a possible chemical, biological and/or “radiological” Situation? **

12. In the event of a future attack on NYC, what roles would City, State and Federal agencies have in assessing the environment and providing safety directives to residents and workers in NYC?

13. In the event of a future attack, has a collection and analysis policy matured to the point where specific entities, whether public or private, have been directed to collect and analyze toxic materials by type and region? Would data thus analyzed be made available to representatives of residents in a near real time mode with clear recommendations as to how residents should respond to the hazards posed by the toxins?

14. Please provide copies of any and all directives or instructions received from the federal government as to the role it would play and/or the role it would expect the City to play, in the event of a future artack on NYC, with respect to the assessment of the safety of air quality and to environmental protection and clean-up. And provide copies of all directives or Instructions the City has received and/or prepared for distribution to residents now that indicate how they should respond in the event specific types of toxins are placed in their residential environment. Please include directives and instructions prepared relating to chemical agents and biological agents, as well as in the event of a “radiological” attack.

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