DEP memo on EPA FEMA interior cleanup scope and indemnification,

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

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The New York City Department of Environmental Protection's Commissioner, Christopher O. Ward, today announced that the Exterior Building Cleanup has completed cleaning the roof and exteriors of 71 buildings in the downtown area.

The exterior cleanup program is one part of the federal, state and local government's overall comprehensive program to reassure the public that air quality in lower Manhattan is, and will continue to be, safe for residents, workers and visitors. Continuing to gain the public's confidence in air quality in and around the World Trade Center site is important to the ongoing renewal and future development of lower Manhattan.

The exterior building cleanup program is entirely funded by a $10.1 grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, through the FEMA / State of New York Public Assistance Program. President Bush authorized FEMA to pay for 100 percent of the program costs following his disaster declaration after the Sept. 11 tragedy. "Our aim is a safe and secure environment in lower Manhattan for the millions of residents, workers and visitors who spend time there," said FEMA Qirector Joe M. Allbaugh. "Supporting the city's efforts to reduce and eliminate any possible harmful effects caused by the continued presence of this material is FHMA's goal." Under the program, building owners whose property has been identified by inspectors as having World Trade Center debris are eligible to have the debris removed from their buildings at no cost. To date, over 1,000 buildings in the downtown area have been visually inspected for possible WTC debris. In addition to the 71 buildings already cleaned, 56 buildings are scheduled for cleaning; some are already underway.

An additional 60 buildings have been cleaned by building owners privately, outside of DEP and FEMA's cleanup program. All these buildings have had their cleanup verified by a DEP inspector to ensure that all debris was removed.

The work is being conducted by licensed asbestos contractors, supervised by DEP personnel. Asbestos contractors are being used to ensure that debris removal is done in the most protective manner possible to the public and workers. DEP personnel and their contractors have been working since June 7 to complete the 71 buildings.

The work is being conducted at times which are most convenient for the businesses and residents in the area, and includes weekends and nights.

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