Correspondence regarding FEMA letter for carpet removal at Ground Zero

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

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t'altroni, Robert ■ om: Onek Matthew [[email protected]] bant: Tuesday, January 28, 2003 10:33 AM "o: avaltronir@dep, nyc.gov Onek Matthew ubject; FEMA Letter for carpet removal at Ground Zero schools

our conversation several weeks ago, I am attaching the Department of Health’s letter re carpet ^moval at Ground Zero schools to be used for FEMA reimbursement. FEMA has requested a similar 21er from you - we agreed that I would send you DOH’s letter as a guide. Also, as you may ^member, DEP already sent the Department of Education a letter in October 2002 stating that you . ad consulted with us on sampling and clean-up efforts and followed DOH’s recommendation of carpet removal. Your letter for FEMA purposes simply needs to restate that you consulted with us c .-id recommended the carpet removal as part of our continued clean-up letters. IF you have any questions, please call me at 374-0214. I will follow-up with you later today. FEMA would like us to ubmit our materials in the next few days. Thanks again for your continued help.

att Onek

RAFT nuary 24, 2003

2 eputy Chancellor Kathleen Grimm ew York City Department of Education 2ie Tweed Courthouse 2 3W York, STY 10007

2'ear Deput y Chancellor Grimm;

cis letter v as prepared at your request [per FEMA reimbursement regulations. The letter] addresses '.e issue of carpeting removal at public schools in Lower Manhattan that were affected by the collapse r the World Trade Center, that is, PS/IS 89, PS 150, PS 234, Stuyvesant High School, the High ohool of Economics and Finance and the High School of Leadership and Public Service.

here have been concerns raised about possible contamination of carpeting at these schools resulting jm the co iiapse of the World Trade Center. The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has orked collaboratively with the Department of Education, and its independent environmental sonsultmg f .tu, on environmental sampling and clean-up efforts at these schools. The Department of . i salth stroiigly recommended that the Department of Education remove floor carpeting as part of .;sir continued clean-up efforts.

. le Department of Health reviewed the "Carpet Removal Protocol" as provided by the Department of bucation. The Department of Health concluded that removal performed in accordance with these otocols w'ould be sufBciently protective of the health of students, teachers, and staff within the bhoois such that the removal process itself would not create a risk to health.

2/24/2003

NYC-WTC_000159755