Interagency WTC coordination, March 27 2002 afternoon

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

>Agency (EPA), along with New York City and other federal and state >agencies, announced additional actions to address outdoor and >indoor air quality. As part of the overall effort to continue to >protect air quality, DEP will remove residual debris from rooftops >and facades with EPA's guidance. OSHA will work in a coordinated >effort with the City and EPA to ensure the safety and health of >the workers performing this cleaning.

>EPA and New York City will expand the program to remove residual >debris from rooftops and facades around the World Trade Center >site. In addition, agencies will work to build on an indoor air >study conducted in November and December. These actions are a >result of the collaborative efforts of the EPA Administrator >Christie Whitman's Task Force on Indoor Air and New York City >Mayor Michael Bloomberg's Lower Manhattan Air Quality Task Force.

>"Actions speak louder than words, and these actions will help >increase confidence about outdoor and indoor air quality," said >Jane Kenny, EPA Regional Administrator. "We have been working >hand-in-hand with the city to resolve the public's health >concerns."

> "I am extremely pleased that EPA continues to work with the City >to address concerns regarding air quality in Lower Manhattan," >said incoming DEP Commissioner Christopher Ward.

>Tests conducted since September 11th have indicated that there is >no evidence of significant long-term health risks to residents and >office workers from the air quality in Lower Manhattan. Inspectors >from the City and EPA have surveyed area rooftops and facades >identifying buildings where residual debris remains. As removal of >debris from the World Trade Center site nears completion, City, >State and Federal agencies are committed to continuing to protect >and improve the downtown environment.

>City, state and federal health and environmental agencies are >working collaboratively to continue to assess the cleaning that >was conducted and determine testing criteria. Building on earlier >tests, EPA will conduct field work to assess cleanup techniques >and provide information for ongoing cleaning. The Agency for >Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, with support from the New >York City Department of Health and EPA, is planning to expand the >indoor air study conducted in December 2001.

>As these projects are developed, the Federal Emergency Management >Agency (FEMA) will fund components that are eligible under its >programs. As the agency responsible for coordinating federal >assistance in support of the city's long term recovery efforts, >FEMA is working closely with all concerned agencies.

>Both the EPA and New York City Task Forces will work cooperatively >to continue to protect air quality. The Lower Manhattan Air >Quality Hotline (212-221-8635) will continue to be the principal >point of information dissemination to businesses, residents and >visitors regarding air quality and environmental issues in and >around the World Trade Center site. The City's Task Force will

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