Asbestos abatement draft review request, May 2002

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

debris in apartments with site visits to review interior and exterior conditions. To date, we

have received 218 complaints regarding possible asbestos contamination in apartments; only

one of these complaints has warranted a clean-up. We are confident that there is minimal

reason for public concerns about the air in their homes. Regardless, we recognize that New

Yorkers need to be assured that they are not being exposed to pollutants that m^t pose

long-term health risks. Through the partnership of these agencies, we are pleased to be

going forward with this program to offer testing of residential units south of Canal Street

river-to-river, and to provide professional cleaning and follow-up testing free of charge in

those cases where contaminants are identified.

The scientific data about i MWediate health risks from short-term exposure to

asbestos is reassuring, and in the few cases where it has been found in homes, professional

clean-up has been completed. Unfortunate^^, there are few existing standards for indoor air

quality and sampling protocols are still rudimentary at this point, but we are working with

experienced asbestos remediation contractors to test and analyze interior spaces as requested

by the public, all the while continuing to develop accurate evaluation criteria. As we conduct

the necessary backgroimd studies, we will keep the public informed about any new

information that is valuable in the short-term. By offering testing and clean-ups to all Lower

Manhattan residents while continuing to evaluate local interior and exterior air conditions.

we aim to address the public’s immediate concerns, while allowirg us to ensure the long-

term quality of air Downtown.

Many details of the program will be fleshed out in the weeks to come. The time

frame for getting apartments cleaned will be determined by the number of people who

request testing, but funding has been identified to clean all residential units, if necessary.

DEP and the other local, state and federal agencies involved will make every effort to move

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