NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document
EPA/NYC Indoor Air Approach - Request to FEMA 4/19/02
Identification. Inspection and Possible Cleaning of HVAC Systems as Part of Exterior Cleaining
NYCDEP will identify the residential buildings with HVAC systems in lower Manhattan and
determine if further action needs to be taken to inspect or clean these systems. This effort will be
combined with the exterior building cleaning effort.
Projected Cost: To be determined.
Cleaning of Debris-Laden Unoccupied Buildings
NYCDEP will clean the remaining unoccupied (residential and commercial) buildings near the
WTC site that contain WTC-debris. This is necessary to prevent recontamination of other structures in
lower Manhattan.
Projected Cost: $10 million, based upon estimates approximately $1 million/building for 10 buildings
Pilot Building Cleaning Effort to Confirm Cleaning Techniques
EPA will clean one unoccupied building to confirm and test the techniques
recommended for removing WTC-debris material from the indoor environment.
Projected Cost: $5 million
Direct Assistance to Residences and Residential Buildings Owners
EPA, working with OSHA and NYC, will establish mechanisms to offer
assistance to individuals that self-identify as having cleaning concerns in lower Manhattan within a
geographic area bounded on the south, east and west by the coastline and on the north by the south
side of Canal Street. EPA will solicit participation in this direct assistance program through public
announcements. A hotline will be established to receive requests fi-om the public as soon as possible.
The assistance will include the following options:
1) Cleaning within apartments and building open spaces, followed by air asbestos testing, using
asbestos abatement contractors. Based on existing data evaluated by OSHA during
lower Manhattan indoor clean-ups, OSHA will under appropriate circumstances make
a determination that these contractors will not be required to use protective clothing or
gear. If the contractor determines protective clothing and gear is warranted based on
their observation of the conditions the cleaning will be done using appropriate personal
protective equipment.
2) Testing for airborne asbestos within residences or building areas.
3) Providing HEPA vacuums to residences who request to perform their own cleaning on an
ongoing basis.
Projected Cost: Needs to be determined. (The March 11 submittal was for $80 million.) Vacuums
costs approximately $400/each. Apartment cleaning is approximately $14,000/apartment. Testing for
asbestos is approximately $3,000/apartment. Commercial space cleaning and testing is $6-8 /sq. foot.
Total costs will not be available until the information campaign is complete and EPA can determine the
extent of what will be required.
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