E-mails 2002 M. Gilsenan

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

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On May 13 the issue was partially settled when the EPA announced that more than 700 of the contaminated cars would be destroyed. But city Sanitation Department spokesperson Kathy Dawkins told NYCOSH that at least 68 cars are salvageable and will be returned to their owners after the city and EPA could reach an agreement on “how to make them safe, on whether they must be professionally cleaned or not.”

According to EPA spokesperson Mary Mears, “The city has agreed that the 68 vehicles will have to be professionally abated before they are returned to the owners.”

“There is no protocol for abating an asbestos-contaminated car,” said NYCOSH executive director Joel Shufro, “and I remain troubled that the city and EPA would reach an agreement about releasing the cars without spelling out the protocol they will use for a professional abatement, one that is stringent enough to protect the health of any unsuspecting person who might buy such a car or be asked to repair one.”

“When you’re talking about interior carpets, upholstery and engine insulation, just to name three problem areas that might be contaminated with asbestos, there is no completely effective method of cleaning,” said NYCOSH industrial hygienist Dave Newman. “All those materials must be removed and discarded, by workers who are trained, licensed and equipped to work safely with asbestos.”

“On behalf of all the workers and the members of the general public who will come into contact with these cars, we are calling on the city and the EPA to subject the cars to stringent post-abatement clearance testing before they are released,” said Shufro. “We will provide the government agencies involved with a detailed description of a minimally acceptable abatement and post-abatement clearance protocol.”

If the cars are released with asbestos in their interiors and their ventilation systems, anyone riding in them will be exposed to cancer-causing asbestos dust. If they are released with asbestos lodged in the nooks and crannies of the engine or the body, anyone who ever repairs them will potentially be exposed to the dust. While the risk of adverse effect from such exposure is not high, it is elevated above normal levels.

In addition to the cars, there is a growing controversy about another 500 pieces of fire apparatus, which were returned to normal service without having been completely cleaned of dust from the collapse, as reported in the Daily News on May 15.

According to the Daily News, ‘“Our rig was parked on West St. right in front of the financial buildings and survived,’ said a Manhattan firefighter, who asked not to be named. ‘Every time we go on a run, it blows dust in our faces. It's not safe.’ Union officials are adamant that all of tiie 500 or so fire vehicles used at Ground Zero — not just the trucks there on the first day — should be professionally cleaned. ‘This is a serious health issue,’ said Thomas Manley, health and safety officer of the Uniformed Firefighters Association. ‘It's not being taken care of for one reason: money.’”

Scammers Exploit Lower Manhattan Environmental Fears

Many New York City residents have recently received e-mail messages or leaflets telling them that they can get a “free” air conditioner, HEPA vacuum cleaner or air purifier by buying one and

3/7/2003

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