NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document
1^^
MEMORANDUM
Department of
Environmental PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL
Protection
S9-17 Junction Boulevard TO: Russ Pecunies
Corona, New York
11368-5107
FROM: Mark D. Hoffer
DATE: 3/11/02
Joel A. Miele Sr., P.E.
Commissioner
RE: Downtown Building Owners - Results of Testing
Mark D. Hoffer
Diana Chapin has advised me that several building owners
General Counsel downtown have conducted their own tests of material on or in their
Bureau of Legal buildings in the aftermath of September 11. It is possible that some of
Affairs these tests reflect the presence of asbestos as a result of the collapse of the
Tel (718) 595-6555 World Trade Center (WTC) towers.
Fax (718) 595-6543
www.cl.nyc.ny.us/dep
Apparently some of these owners have refused to share their test
results with DEP. Diana wants to know whether we can compel
production of the test results, so that agency personnel can determine
whether or not there are actions the owners or others should be taking
under law to protect public health and safety.
I would like you to look at this issue as soon as possible and let me
know your conclusions. My own preliminary take, based on a quick
review of relevant laws, is that we do have authority to compel production
of the test results, based on the following:
1. Air Code. The first potential source of authority I looked at is
the Air Code. I believe asbestos fibers would constitute “particulate
matter” (Ad. Code 24-104(38)) because they are solid matter which is
capable of becoming windblown (certainly, if the fibers are on the outside
of a structure, exposed to the wind). The definition of an “air
contaminant” (Ad. Code 24-104(1)) is “any particulate matter ... in the
open air....”
The DEP Commissioner is authorized to make any investigation or
study which in his or her opinion is desirable for the purpose of enforcing
the Air Code or controlling or reducing the amount of any air contaminant
.alYDEB,
(Ad. Code 24-106). In furtherance of this end, he or she is authorized to
“compel the production of books, papers and other things reasonably
C wwvr.nyc.goy/dep~)
(718) OEP-HELP
NYC-WTC_000153870
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