E-mails 2002 M. Gilsenan

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

MEMORANDUM

TO: Thomas R. Frieden, Commissioner Department of Health

FROM: Diana Chapin, First Deputy Commissioner Department of Environmental Protection

DATE: April 3, 2002

SUBJECT: World Trade Center Activities Conducted by DEP

After our recent conversation, 1 thought it might be helpful to have our staff put together a chronology of some of the WTC activities conducted by DEP.....

• DEP hazmat and air quality staff immediately responded and made preliminary assessments of conditions • Coordinated cleanup activities of streets, sidewalks, and exterior common areas with OEM, EPA, DOS and NYCDOH • EPA and DEP contractors conducted street cleanups by using HEPA vacs and DEP directed and monitored cleanup activities. • Developed and distributed advisories for owners for both exterior and interior maintenance issues involved in reopening buildings (see attached). • Set up air quality monitors at numerous sites in and around ground zero beginning September 11*’’. • Set up air quality monitors at four school locations near the WTC fi-om October 4*’’. • Set up air quality monitors in the five boroughs from September 14*- October • Set up a special telephone in Asbestos Unit to assist building owners, tenants and contractors with inquiries which was manned 12 hours a day, 7 days a week for 2 months. (Separate and apart from our 24 hour (718) DEP Helpline.) • Performed site visits to review activities (both exterior and interior)conducted by building owners both on request of owner, citizen complaint and general oversight. • Performed at least one inspection of all (asbestos project) ACP7 notifications filed by building owners. (To date, 34 building owners have filed ACP7 notifications.) • Responded to telephone complaints from the public regarding debris/dust in apartments. As of today, DEP has received over 159 indoor complaints and has resolved 152 with 7 ongoing. In 151 cases, no visible debris was

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