EPA response letter with respirator policy revisions, August 2003

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

EPA also provided respirators for workers at the site. According to a May 1,2002, letter from EPA's Region 2 Administrator to Senator Joseph Lieberman (D-CT) and Senator George Voinovich (R-OH), EPA had distributed 22,100 air purifying respirators and 30,500 sets of Pl00 particulate cartridges to New York City by September 22, 2001. Additionally, 600 respirators (MSA and 3m brand) and 2,000 cartridges (GME-PlOO) were provided to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the New York State Department of Health. The bulk of EPA-procured equipment was transported from EPA's Edison facility by the New York National Guard to the New York City Office of Emergency Management for distribution to response workers.

As the rescue phase progressed, EPA emergency response officials told us they were concerned about the lack of respirator use less than 1(K)% compliance with respirator requirements at Ground Zero and outlined these concerns in a letter to NYCDOH, dated October 5, 2001. This letter outlined the threat of potential exposure of workers to hazardous substances. The letter noted that EPA had recommended and continued to recommend that workers at the site wear respiratory protection, and that workers comply with de-eentaminatien-procedures to prevent them from spreading contaminants debris from the site to their homes, cars, and other locations. [Again, decontamination and contaminants language assumes a hazai'dous waste operation, and this was not such an event.1 The letter stated that EPA did not have the authority to enforce compliance with non-EPA/United States Coast Guard employees and concluded by recommending that the Incident Commander adopt and enforce a site­ wide Health and Safety Plan. A copy of the letter is attached as Appendix T.

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