Memo routing form re: Independence Plaza WTC documents, undated

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

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with ceramic tile, and, in addition, at 80 North Moore Street, the remainder of the old carpeting has been replaced with new carpeting. The remaining old carpeting in the other buildings is going to be replaced in the near future.

The work on this project has thus far been done in an unprotected, hence possibly dangerous manner, allowing the dust from the old carpet being tom up to seep into tenants' apartments, under and around their doors. In light of the unacceptably high asbestos level found, in the hallway in the 310 building; the large amount of World Trade Center dust that, for many months, daily blanketed our buildings and streets from the Pier 25 barge operation; and the fact that carpeting is known to retain a high level of contaminants, even after HEPA vacuuming, we believe that this situation presents a very serious health risk to IPN residents.

We request that, as part of the EPA whole-building cleanup, the remaining carpet removal at IPN be done under the supervision of the EPA in a safe and controlled manner, according to EPA's standards and protocols for handling hazardous materials. We further request that EPA direct an asbestos abatement of the hallway floors, ceilings and walls — prior to the installation of new carpet. At 80 North Moore Street, where the carpet replacement has been completed, we ask that the EPA test the new carpeting on several different floors, utilizing the ultrasonication method. We ask that EPA also test, at the same time, the floor beneath the carpeting, especially where the floor meets the wall, using the micro-vac method and TEM analysis. This is the most urgent of our requests, since IPN management might order this work resumed at any time.

At the first meeting of the EPA with the 9/11 Environmental Action Coalition, EPA representatives said that terraces are considered a part of an apartment and would be cleaned in the individual apartment cleaning. What was not discussed was cleaning the outside of apartment windows. We are concerned because some IPN apartment windows have brownish dust on their exteriors and many tenants are afraid to open their windows. Even where the windows have been cleaned, we are certain that the window tracks contain hazardous dust from the trade center dust storm and the months-long barge operation. Just this month, one 4th floor tenant facing Harrison Street had clumps of dust fly into her apartment when she attempted to open her windows.

At your suggestion, we are contacting the DEP to request a report on the rooftops of all IPN buildings. We are also requesting that DEP work with EPA to develop a coordinated process for the testing and cleaning of our buildings, including the windows, since, if the exteriors of the buildings are cleaned after the interior cleaning of individual apartments and the common areas, the buildings will simply become re- contaminated.

We do not feel that EPA's and DEP's planned method of visual inspection will adequately assess the condition of our buildings. Based on the illnesses that have plagued IPN residents since 9/11 (constant respiratory, sinus, bronchial, skin rashes, eye infections, headaches, etc.), we believe there is a need to do a thorough cleaning of the entire complex, and that the need to clean exteriors must be based on stringent, comprehensive testing, not merely visual inspection.

In regard to the cleaning of ventilation systems, you said that the EPA would

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