DEP letter to FEMA on residential clean-up results, July 2003

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

July 11,2003

Mr. Walter Melnick Federal Emergency Management Agency Federal Recovery Office 80 Centre Street, 3*^^ Floor New York, NY 10013

Dear Mr. Melnick,

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and are in receipt of the analytical test results supplied to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) by residents of 114 Liberty Street via Congressman Jerrold Nadler’s office. These samples were collected and analyzed in April 2003.

As part of the EPA, FEMA and DEP voluntary clean-up program for residential units in lower Manhattan, DEP was responsible for the clean-up of World Trade Center (WTC) dust and debris from unoccupied, uncleaned residential buildings; one of which was 114 Liberty Street. EPA had oversight responsibility for this part of the program.

DEP developed the scope of work following the guidelines set forth in Title 15 Chapter 1 of RCNY (Asbestos Control Program). Copies of scope of work were distributed to EPA, the building management and the residents. In addition sampling was done for contaminants of potential concern following EPA protocols established specifically for WTC clean ups. The analytical results were compared to health-based benchmarks established by EPA’s Interagency Indoor Air Task Force. The contaminants of potential concern included; asbestos, lead, dioxin, PAHs (Poly Aromatic Hydrocarbons), fibrous* glass and crystalline silica.

The clean up started on March 6, 2003 and completed on March 29, 2003. The test results were reviewed and the clearance results indicated that all the primary clearance levels were achieved.

In April of 2003, DEP sent the Board of Directors a letter informing them that the clean­ up activities had been completed as per the clean-up and monitoring specifications, as well as the access agreements for 114 Liberty Street. Attached to the letter were copies of correspondence from EPA regarding the clearance levels for contaminants of possible concern and enclosures summarizing the analytical results. Included in the letter was reaffirmation of Asbestos Control Program staffs observations whereby pre-existing building materials were identified as having suspect asbestos-containing material (ACM). Those materials included thermal system insulation, surfacing material and vinyl asbestos tiles. Copies of DEP’s April 24, 2003 and EPA’s April 18, 2003 letters are attached for your perusal.

NYC-WTC_000160436