Declaration document for internal DEP signature review, May 2002

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

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DECLARATION OF EMERGENCY WHEREAS, on September 11,2001, an unforeseen terrorist attack resulted in the tragic destruction ofthe World Trade Center (“WTC”); and WHEREAS, as a result of said catastrophe, buildings in surrounding areas were damaged, if not destroyed; and WHEREAS, in the aftermath, to minimize further destruction and implications ofthe attack, various remediation activities were immediately instituted; and WHEREAS, as a follow-up to such activities performed in October and November of2001, the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (“NYCDEP”), in conjunction with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“USEPA”) and the New York State Department of Labor (“NYSDOL”), performed site visits at buildings in the surrounding vicinity; and WHEREAS, buildings containing debris characteristic of the debris from the impact of die collapse of the WTC were identified and remediation was commenced; and WHEREAS, debris removal from the immediate areas ofdestruction in the WTC complex is nearing completion and the remaining unoccupied buildings identified as potentially contaminated must be rid of debris; and WHEREAS, as local residents are concerned that apartments may contain debris from the WTC catastrophe, it has been deemed necessary to establish a “call center,” to provide residents and residential building owners a means of obtaining professional contractor clean-up and testing; and WHEREAS, USEPA has determined that an expedited clean-up of buildings containing debris is in the public interest, and is necessary to ensure that the air quality of the affected area is as pure as possible; and WHEREAS, such clean-up is required to help protect against any adverse effects on air quality or public health and safety; and WHEREAS, the clean-up process will require technical services, as well as the services of asbestos-remediation and air monitoring firms; and WHEREAS, the area designated for such clean-up shall be divided into four sectors, each requiring asbestos­ remediation and air monitoring contracts; and WHEREAS, funding for such clean-up will be provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (“FEMA”); and WHEREAS, the immediate action required cannot be met through normal procurement methods; and WHEREAS, the aforementioned circumstances may affect the health and safety of the inhabitants of the 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 contract(s) must be let in the most expeditious maimer possible to ensure that necessary asbestos remediation in die affected area can occur, to monitor and ensure the air quality of the City of New York.

NYC-WTC_000162122