DEP cleanup project completion news article, Nov 2002

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

DEP article Page 2 of 2

The DEP has worked closely with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the EPA throughout the process of inspection, cleanup and re-inspection.

"We went into every crevice and every corner of the buildings we cleaned," said Avaltroni. "Wherever we saw debris, we removed it."

DEP crews used various means to reach building surfaces, including cherry pickers, scaffolds and platforms, and cleaned these surfaces with low-pressure spray-guns as well as by hand. The New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) played an integral role in securing necessary permits and helping erect scaffolds and riggings. The DOB also responded promptly to any potential building hazards identified by DEP crews, including loose bricks and cracked facades, and took the necessary steps to protect pedestrians.

Liz Berger, a long-time resident and employee in the area, is very appreciative of the effort put forth by the City and the DEP. "The City and the DEP were genuinely interested in understanding the issue and solving the problem," said Berger. "Thanks to their efforts, I feel much better in the apartment where I live and in the building where I work."

The owners of 13 buildings have failed to respond to the DEP's repeated attempts to reach them. These buildings will be re-inspected in the coming weeks. Those that fail DEP inspection will be subject to the issuance of a Commissioner's Order if sampling indicates the presence of asbestos-contaminated material. The DEP cleanup officially draws to a close by November 30.

A Day in the Life of a DEP Cleaning Crew: Juggling Schedules and Moving Automobiles

While DEP crews tended to the cleanup in expeditious fashion, they also went to great lengths to ensure that downtown life went undisturbed as they went about their work. "We took into careful consideration the patterns of everyday life downtown," said Avaltroni. "As hard as we worked to clean up the area, we strove equally hard to minimize any disruption to residents, businesses and institutions."

Doing so required some logistical feats on the part of the DEP. In certain cases, building cleanups had to be scheduled at off-hours. For example, the cleanup at St. Peter's Church at 16 Barclay Street could only be conducted on weeknights from 6 pm to midnight so as not to impede parishioners from entering the church or disturb church services.

In addition to juggling schedules, the DEP frequently had to move vehicles parked in front of job sites despite posted notices of sidewalk and street closures issued by the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT). In several cases, the DEP working with the DOT deployed teams of tow trucks to lift cars gingerly from front and back - so as not to damage them - move them away from the cleanup site and then return them once cleanup was completed. In one case where a car could not be moved without risk of damage, DEP crews wrapped the entire vehicle in plastic to protect it.

"We're proud to have done our part to make Lower Manhattan a better place to live," said Avaltroni.

«NYC DEP Completes Downtown Cleanup.doc»

11/29/02

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