Asbestos abatement draft review request, May 2002

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

Good afternoon. I am pleased to be here today with the EPA and our federal, state

and city partners to announce the launch of a comprehensive program to allay the fears of

Lower Manhattan residents concerned about possible asbestos contamination in their homes

caused by the collapse of the World Trade Center. There are approximately 31,000 people

living south of Canal Street, and none of them should have to live with fear of the air they

breathe. We are gratified that FEMA and the EPA are providing emergency funding to

allow residential dwellings to be tested for asbestos, and to properfy clean any homes in

which evidence of contamination is found. While our work to date has found minimal

instances of asbestos in the buildings surrounding Ground Zero, we recognize that New

Yorkers are concerned about the air quality in their homes, and we are confident that the

measures announced today will help further reassure residents of Lower Manhattan of the

safety of their living environment.

Immediately following the collapse of the Twin Towers, DEP coordinated cleanup

activities of streets, sidewalks, and exterior common areas with OEM, EPA, DOS and NYC

DOH. Since September 11'’’, we have established an air monitoring network in and around

Ground Zero to evaluate the exterior air quality bn a continuing basis; we expect to continue

this close monitoring at least through June. Since January, DEP inspectors have been

conducting an assessment of buildup exteriors of more than 800 buildings south of Canal

Street to identify debris and dust from the World Trade Center on rooftops and facades and

to conduct appropriate clean-ups as required. Where we have found exterior debris, it has

formed into dense, cake-like deposits, meaning that it is not airborne and is not lilffily to be

breathed in by local residents or visitors.

We have also been collecting indoor air samples from 300 building owners in Lower

Manhattan; of 121,i samples submitted to date, onfy 1% have required a professional

clean-up. DEP has responded to owner requests and citizen complaints about dust and

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