Health and environment document revision, August 2002

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

• That your residence be first tested for asbestos in the air without professional cleaning. If - and only if - asbestos is found during testing, you may ask that your residence be professionally cleaned.

• Reimbursement by Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter vacuum, if you have not already been reimbursed for one by FEMA.

Contractors to Conduct Thorough Testing and Cleanup Some dust from the World Trade Center collapse has been shown to contain asbestos and other contaminants. EPA believes this action-oriented cleanup and testing program will reduce risk of possible long-term exposure and related health effects.

EPA contractors will thoroughly test and clean within apartments and common spaces, such as hallways, stairwells, lobbies and elevator shafts (if requested). All hard surfaces, including walls, floors, and shelves, and clean rugs, carpets, curtains, drapes, and upholstered furnishings will be cleaned with HEPA filter vacuums. They also will clean balconies or terraces, window guards, and smoke alarms. Individual air conditioners will be cleaned in place, and the EPA will seek the building owner’s/manager’s permission to evaluate the HVAC (heating and cooling) systems.

To ensure your indoor air is clean, the EPA will test for asbestos after cleanups are completed, as well as in residences where people want testing without cleaning. Most residences will be cleaned in about two days, and testing for asbestos will take an additional day.

Sign Up Now To Get Your Apartment Cleaned/Tested: Application Process To request cleanup and/or testing, sign up on the EPA’s Web site or call the toll-free hotline at 1-877-796-5471. Your names and addresses will not be made public. [Note: Need to know how soon after they make a request can they expect someone to come and test/clean.] Residents can check on the status of their requests by checking the EPA Web site or calling the toll-free hotline. (You will be asked for your confirmation number given to you at the time of your request.)

Program Gives Extra Assurance There’s no need to be concerned that your initial cleanup efforts - wet wiping, wet mopping, and using HEPA filter vacuums - were insufficient. EPA is offering professional testing and cleanup services to provide an added level of assurance that residences have been properly cleaned.

Beware of Phony Contractors Be aware of people who falsely claim to be contractors working on EPA's Lower Manhattan Dust Cleanup Program. When contractors are selected, their names will be announced via EPA’s Web site, EPA’s WTC E-mail Notification Service, and through community organizations and the news media.

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