Emergency declaration draft, WTC indoor cleaning, May 2002

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

DECLARATION OF EMERGENCY

WHEREAS, the Jamaica Water Pollution Control Plant, which services approximately 630,000 residents of Queens and handles approximately 80 mgd of wastewater; and

WHEREAS, there is currently construction underway for the upgrade of the Plant; and

WHEREAS, as part of the treatment process, methane gas is created in the digesters; and

WHEREAS, the produced gas is usually either piped from the digesters to the boilers or from the digesters to the waste ^s burners; and

WHEREAS the digester gas line at the Plant is canpletely clogged with slag and debris; and

WHEREAS, as a result ofthe clog, methane gas is being exhausted directly into die atmosphere from emergency relief valves located on the digester roofs; and

WHEREAS, although as part of Phase II of the overall Plant upgrade the digester gas piping is to be replaced, due to the current situation, it is essential that the gas piping fiom the digesters to the waste gas burners be immediately replaced; and

WHEREAS, the current release of gas into the atmosphere may be a potential violation of federal and state air laws, rules and regilations; and

WHEREAS, it is imperative that the piping be replaced so as to avoid potential explosions, as there are construction contractors working in the area with welding equipment; and

WHEREAS, the immediate action required cannot be met through normal procurement methods; and

WHEREAS, the aforementioned circ tances affect the health and safety ofthe inhabitants ofthe City of New York.

NOW, THEREFORE, for the aforementioned reasons, pursuant to the authority conferred by section 315 of the New York City Charter and Section 3-06 of the Procurement Policy Board Rules, I hereby determine that an emergency exists, and

I FURTHER DETERMINE that emergency contracts) must be let in the most expeditious manner possible to replace the damaged gas piping so as to avoid further release of gas into the atmosphere.

Dated: August_ , 2001

JOEL A. MIELE SR., P.E. Commissioner

NYC-WTC_000162106