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82–894pdf 2003

S. HRG. 107–524, Part II

AIR QUALITY IN NEW YORK CITY AFTER THE

SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 ATTACKS

FIELD HEARING

BEFORE THE

SUBCOMMITTEE ON CLEAN AIR, WETLANDS, AND

CLIMATE CHANGE

OF THE

COMMITTEE ON

ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS

UNITED STATES SENATE

ONE HUNDRED SEVENTH CONGRESS

SECOND SESSION

ON

AIR QUALITY IN NEW YORK CITY AFTER THE SEPTEMBER 11, 2001

ATTACKS

FEBRUARY 11, 2002—NEW YORK CITY

Printed for the use of the Committee on Environment and Public Works

(
COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS

ONE HUNDRED SEVENTH CONGRESS

SECOND SESSION

JAMES M. JEFFORDS, Vermont, Chairman

MAX BAUCUS, Montana

HARRY REID, Nevada

BOB GRAHAM, Florida

JOSEPH I. LIEBERMAN, Connecticut

BARBARA BOXER, California

RON WYDEN, Oregon

THOMAS R. CARPER, Delaware

HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON, New York

JON S. CORZINE, New Jersey

BOB SMITH, New Hampshire

JOHN W. WARNER, Virginia

JAMES M. INHOFE, Oklahoma

CHRISTOPHER S. BOND, Missouri

GEORGE V. VOINOVICH, Ohio

MICHAEL D. CRAPO, Idaho

LINCOLN CHAFEE, Rhode Island

ARLEN SPECTER, Pennsylvania

BEN NIGHTHORSE CAMPBELL, Colorado

KEN CONNOLLY, Majority Staff Director

DAVE CONOVER, Minority Staff Director

SUBCOMMITTEE ON CLEAN AIR, WETLANDS, AND CLIMATE CHANGE

JOSEPH I. LIEBERMAN, Connecticut, Chairman

HARRY REID, Nevada

THOMAS R. CARPER, Delaware

HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON, New York

JON S. CORZINE, New Jersey

GEORGE V. VOINOVICH, Ohio

JAMES M. INHOFE, Oklahoma

MICHAEL D. CRAPO, Idaho

BEN NIGHTHORSE CAMPBELL, Colorado

(II)
(III)

CONTENTS

Page

FEBRUARY 11, 2002—NEW YORK CITY

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL—CONTINUED

Attachments from EPA:

Attachment 3, Non-Fixed Location Air Sampling and Monitoring Record

of Results

December 21, 2001 .................................................................................... 1

December 22–27, 2001 .............................................................................. 42

December 28, 2001 .................................................................................... 78

December 29–31, 2001 .............................................................................. 81

January 1–2, 2002 ..................................................................................... 137

January 3, 2002 ......................................................................................... 147

January 4, 2002 ......................................................................................... 163

January 5–7, 2002 ..................................................................................... 180

January 8, 2002 ......................................................................................... 215

January 9, 2002 ......................................................................................... 224

January 10, 2002 ....................................................................................... 244

January 11, 2002 ....................................................................................... 257

January 12–14, 2002 ................................................................................. 298

January 15, 2002 ....................................................................................... 336

January 16, 2002 ....................................................................................... 353

January 17, 2002 ....................................................................................... 388

January 18, 2002 ....................................................................................... 402

January 19–21, 2002 ................................................................................. 414

January 22, 2002 ....................................................................................... 444

January 23, 2002 ....................................................................................... 454

January 24, 2002 ....................................................................................... 468

January 25, 2002 ....................................................................................... 478

January 26–28, 2002 ................................................................................. 502

January 29, 2002 ....................................................................................... 525

January 30, 2002 ....................................................................................... 539

January 31, 2002 ....................................................................................... 550

February 1, 2002 ....................................................................................... 563

February 2–4, 2002 ................................................................................... 578

February 5, 2002 ....................................................................................... 590

February 6, 2002 ....................................................................................... 595

February 7, 2002 ....................................................................................... 601

February 8, 2002 ....................................................................................... 619

February 9–11, 2002 ................................................................................. 631

February 12, 2002 ..................................................................................... 646

February 13, 2002 ..................................................................................... 662

February 14, 2002 ..................................................................................... 679

February 15, 2002 ..................................................................................... 703

February 16–19, 2002 ............................................................................... 721

February 20, 2002 ..................................................................................... 736

February 21, 2002 ..................................................................................... 750

February 22, 2002 ..................................................................................... 766

February 23–25, 2002 ............................................................................... 785

February 26, 2002 ..................................................................................... 795

February 27, 2002 ..................................................................................... 815

February 28, 2002 ..................................................................................... 818

March 1–4, 2002 ........................................................................................ 821

March 5, 2002 ............................................................................................ 830
Page

IV

Attachments from EPA—Continued

Attachment 3, Non-Fixed Location Air Sampling and Monitoring Record

of Results—Continued

March 6, 2002 ............................................................................................ 850

March 7, 2002 ............................................................................................ 882

March 8–11, 2002 ...................................................................................... 955

March 12, 2002 .......................................................................................... 977

March 13, 2002 .......................................................................................... 993

March 14, 2002 .......................................................................................... 1020

March 15–19, 2002 .................................................................................... 1052

March 21, 2002 .......................................................................................... 1086

March 22, 2002 .......................................................................................... 1100

March 23–25, 2002 .................................................................................... 1113

March 26, 2002 .......................................................................................... 1124

March 27, 2002 .......................................................................................... 1136

March 28, 2002 .......................................................................................... 1153

March 29–April 1, 2002 ............................................................................ 1172

April 2, 2002 .............................................................................................. 1183

April 3, 2002 .............................................................................................. 1204

April 4, 2002 .............................................................................................. 1255

April 5–8, 2002 .......................................................................................... 1280

April 9, 2002 .............................................................................................. 1304

April 10, 2002 ............................................................................................ 1315

April 11, 2002 ............................................................................................ 1331

April 12–16, 2002 ...................................................................................... 1375

April 17, 2002 ............................................................................................ 1405

April 18, 2002 ............................................................................................ 1445

April 19, 2002 ............................................................................................ 1454

April 20–22, 2002 ...................................................................................... 1477

Attachment 4, Personal Safety & Health Protection Recommendations

for Search and Rescue Personnel ................................................................ 1489

Attachment 5, Asbestos Hazards and Precautions ........................................ 1489

Attachment 6, EPA Press Release, September 13, 2001; EPA Response

to September 11, EPA Initiates Emergency Response Activities, Reassures Public About Environmental Hazards .............................................. 1490

Attachment 7, EPA Press Release, September 14, 2001; EPA Response

to September 11, EPA Emergency Responses at World Trade Center

and Pentagon ................................................................................................. 1491

Attachment 8, EPA Press Release, September 18, 2001; EPA Response

to September 11, Whitman Details Ongoing Agency Efforts to Monitor

Disaster Sites, Contribute to Cleanup Efforts ............................................ 1491

Attachment 9, EPA Press Release, September 21, 2001; EPA Response

to September 11, NYC Monitoring Efforts Continue to Show Safe

Drinking Water & Air .................................................................................. 1493

Attachment 10, EPA Press Release, September 21, 2001; EPA Response

to September 11, EPA and OSHA Web Sites Provide Environmental

Monitoring Data From World Trade Center and Surrounding Areas ...... 1494

Attachment 11, Letter to Kelly R. McKinney, Associate Commissioner,

Bureau of Regulatory and Environmental Health Services from Bruce

Sprague, Chief, Response and Prevention Branch, Environmental Protection Agency, Region 2, Edison, NY ......................................................... 1496

Attachment 12, Environmental Protection Agency, Region 2, News Release, October 30, 2001, Environmental Monitoring Data Related to

the World Trade Center Disaster Response Available to Public .............. 1496

Attachment 13, Indoor Air Samples at 290 Broadway and 26 Federal

Plaza on September 13 and at 100 Church Street on October 23 ............ 1498

Attachment 14, Environmental Protection Agency, Region 2, News Release, March 25, 2002, Federal, State and City Agencies Announce

Actions for Lower Manhattan Air Quality .................................................. 1500
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ATTACHMENT 4

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

EPA PERSONAL SAFETY & HEALTH PROTECTION RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SEARCH AND

RESCUE PERSONNEL

PERSONAL PROTECTION EQUIPMENT (PPE)

All personnel in the work area should wear the following:

• Hard hats.

• Steel-toed/heavy duty work shoes.

• Long pants and long sleeve work shirts.

• Safety glasses/eye protection.

• Respiratory protection.

Ground zero: Approved respirator (P–100 or equivalent).

Other areas: Dust mask (N–100/R–100 or equivalent).

WORK AREA SAFETY CONCERNS

• Watch surroundings at all times.

• Be alert for materials and debris that may fall from damaged buildings.

• Cap and secure unused pressurized cylinders.

• As far as practical, try to keep the generation of dusts to a minimum.

• Use the buddy system.

WORK AREA HEALTH CONCERNS

• Clean respirators and eye wear as frequently as possible.

• No consumption of foods that have not been covered or properly sealed.

• When leaving work area:

Dust off clothing.

Clean or scrape off shoes.

Wash hands and face.

HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATIONS

• Stand clear of operating equipment and vehicles.

• Avoid entering crane swing radius.

• Use tag lines when lifting loads.

• Use spotter during lifting operations and for personnel safety in area (no lifting

over personnel/equipment).

• All equipment operators wear proper PPE when leaving equipment (see above).

• Be cautious of operating speeds in work areas and especially when leaving the

area.

Recommend speeds no faster than 10 mph until outside hazard areas.

EMERGENCY SIGNALS

• Immediately Stop Work/Evaluate Area: Three (3) repeated short blasts of siren/

air horn.

• Stop Work/Remain Silent: One (1) long blast of siren/air horn.

• Restart Work: One (1) long and two (2) short blasts of siren/air horns.

ATTACHMENT 5

ASBESTOS HAZARDS AND PRECAUTIONS

In response to the World Trade Center devastation, concerns have been raised

with breathing asbestos-contaminated material and irritation from skin and eye

contact. Asbestos was likely used in various construction materials used to build the

World Trade Center. Short-term exposure to asbestos can cause respiratory, skin,

or eye irritation. These symptoms can also be experienced from contact with nonasbestos dust, such as a concrete particulate debris.

For the public the best response is to remain indoors with windows shut if possible. For emergency workers air purifying respirators should be used when available but paper filament masks will provide sufficient protection under minimal exposure conditions.
1490

Cleanup workers should be protected with appropriate eye protection, air purifying respirators and personal protective clothing, such as TYVEKs, to prevent skin

irritation. Workers should practice basic decontamination procedures, such as washing hands and faces. To minimize air-borne contamination, debris should be misted

or sprayed with water during cleanup operations.

ATTACHMENT 6

EPA PRESS RELEASE: EPA RESPONSE TO SEPTEMBER 11

SEPTEMBER 13, 2001

EPA INITIATES EMERGENCY RESPONSE ACTIVITIES, REASSURES PUBLIC ABOUT

ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Christie Whitman today announced that EPA is taking steps to ensure the safety of rescue workers and the

public at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon disaster sites, and to protect

the environment. EPA is working with State, Federal, and local agencies to monitor

and respond to potential environmental hazards and minimize any environmental

effects of the disasters and their aftermath.

At the request of the New York City Department of Health, EPA and the U.S.

Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have

been on the scene at the World Trade Center monitoring exposure to potentially

contaminated dust and debris. Monitoring and sampling conducted on Tuesday and

Wednesday have been very reassuring about potential exposure of rescue crews and

the public to environmental contaminants.

EPA’s primary concern is to ensure that rescue workers and the public are not

exposed to elevated levels of asbestos, acidic gases or other contaminants from the

debris. Sampling of ambient air quality found either no asbestos or very low levels

of asbestos. Sampling of bulk materials and dust found generally low levels of asbestos.

The levels of lead, asbestos and volatile organic compounds in air samples taken

on Tuesday in Brooklyn, downwind from the World Trade Center site, were not detectable or not of concern.

Additional sampling of both ambient air quality and dust particles was conducted

Wednesday night in Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn, and results were uniformly acceptable.

‘‘EPA is greatly relieved to have learned that there appears to be no significant

levels of asbestos dust in the air in New York City,’’ said Administrator Whitman.

‘‘We are working closely with rescue crews to ensure that all appropriate precautions are taken. We will continue to monitor closely.’’

Public health concerns about asbestos contamination are primarily related to longterm exposure. Short-term, low-level exposure of the type that might have been produced by the collapse of the World Trade Center buildings is unlikely to cause significant health effects. EPA and OSHA will work closely with rescue and cleanup

crews to minimize their potential exposure, but the general public should be very

reassured by initial sampling.

EPA and OSHA will continue to monitor and sample for asbestos, and will work

with the appropriate officials to ensure that rescue workers, cleanup crews and the

general public are properly informed about appropriate steps that should be taken

to ensure proper handling, transportation and disposal of potentially contaminated

debris or materials.

EPA is taking steps to ensure that response units implement appropriate engineering controls to minimize environmental hazards, such as water sprays and rinsing to prevent or minimize potential exposure and limit releases of potential contaminants beyond the debris site.

EPA is also conducting downwind sampling for potential chemical and asbestos

releases from the World Trade Center debris site. In addition, EPA has deployed

Federal On-Scene Coordinators to the Washington, DC Emergency Operations Center, Fort Meade, and FEMA’s alternate Regional Operations Center in Pennsylvania, and has deployed an On-Scene Coordinator to the Virginia Emergency Operations Center.

Under its response authority, EPA will use all available resources and staff experts to facilitate a safe emergency response and cleanup.

EPA will work with other involved agencies as needed to:
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• procure and distribute respiratory and eye protection equipment in cooperation

with the Department of Health and Human Services; • provide health and safety training upon request; • design and implement a site monitoring plan; • provide technical assistance for site control and decontamination; and • provide some 3000 asbestos respirators, 60 self-contained breathing apparatuses

and 10,000 protective clothing suits to the two disaster sites.

New York Governor George E. Pataki has promised to provide emergency electric

generators to New York City in efforts to restore lost power caused by Tuesday’s tragedy, and EPA will work with State authorities to expedite any necessary permits for those generators.

OSHA is also working with Consolidated Edison regarding safety standards for

employees who are digging trenches because of leaking gas lines underground.

OSHA has advised Con Edison to provide its employees with appropriate respirators

so they can proceed with emergency work, shutting off gas leaks in the city.

ATTACHMENT 7

EPA PRESS RELEASE: EPA RESPONSE TO SEPTEMBER 11

SEPTEMBER 14, 2001

EPA EMERGENCY RESPONSES AT WORLD TRADE CENTER AND PENTAGON

After terrorists struck the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on September

11, 2001, 26 EPA specialists were on the scene within hours. Currently, more than

225 EPA experts are responding to the WTC and Pentagon disasters. EPA criminal

investigators, forensic and technical specialists and emergency response experts are

providing support to FEMA, the FBI and local emergency officials. EPA is one of

many Federal agencies responsible for responding to this national crisis.

The primary mission of EPA’s Emergency Response Program is to protect the public and the environment from immediate threats posed by the release or discharge

of hazardous substances and oil. Emergency response personnel are monitoring potential air quality issues; analyzing samples for asbestos and other hazardous materials and oil sampling; and disposing of biomedical waste. EPA has worked with the

State of New York and Virginia to waive landfill amount requirements to expedite

the removal of debris from the scenes.

EPA has initially budgeted $600,000 to provide technical assistance and response

support. More than 3,000 respirators, 60 self-contained breathing apparatus machines, and 10,000 specially-equipped protective suits are on the way to these disaster sites. EPA is working closely with Federal, State, and local partners to ensure

that all workers and volunteers involved in the rescue and cleanup efforts are properly protected.

EPA Region 2 emergency response staff are also stationed at the FBI Joint Operations Center in New York City, Trenton, New Jersey Emergency Operations Center, and FEMA’s office in Albany, NY. Region 2’s Edison, NJ office is also providing

work space for 100 FEMA employees. EPA HQ Emergency Operations Center is operating on a 24-hour basis, while R3 has emergency responders deployed to Washington, DC., Ft. Meade and at the Willow Grove Naval Air Station in Pennsylvania.

EPA will continue to coordinate with our Federal partners to ensure the health

and safety of the public and the environment during this national crisis.

More information is available at: EPA’s Environmental Response Team Center,

EPA’s Oil Spill Program, and EPA’s Superfund Program.

ATTACHMENT 8

EPA PRESS RELEASE: EPA RESPONSE TO SEPTEMBER 11

SEPTEMBER 18, 2001

WHITMAN DETAILS ONGOING AGENCY EFFORTS TO MONITOR DISASTER SITES,

CONTRIBUTE TO CLEANUP EFFORTS

EPA Administrator Christie Whitman announced today that results from the

Agency’s air and drinking water monitoring near the World Trade Center and Pentagon disaster sites indicate that these vital resources are safe. Whitman also announced that EPA has been given up to $83 million from the Federal Emergency
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Management Agency (FEMA) to support EPA’s involvement in cleanup activities

and ongoing monitoring of environmental conditions in both the New York City and

Washington metropolitan areas following last week’s terrorist attacks on the World

Trade Center and the Pentagon.

‘‘We are very encouraged that the results from our monitoring of air quality and

drinking water conditions in both New York and near the Pentagon show that the

public in these areas is not being exposed to excessive levels of asbestos or other

harmful substances,’’ Whitman said. ‘‘Given the scope of the tragedy from last week,

I am glad to reassure the people of New York and Washington, DC that their air

is safe to breath and their water is safe to drink,’’ she added.

In the aftermath of last Tuesday’s attacks, EPA has worked closely with State,

Federal and local authorities to provide expertise on cleanup methods for hazardous

materials, as well as to detect whether any contaminants are found in ambient air

quality monitoring, sampling of drinking water sources and sampling of runoff near

the disaster sites.

At the request of FEMA, EPA has been involved in the cleanup and site monitoring efforts, working closely with the U.S. Coast Guard, the Centers for Disease

Control (CDC), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and

State and local organizations.

EPA has conducted repeated monitoring of ambient air at the site of the World

Trade Center and in the general Wall Street district of Manhattan, as well as in

Brooklyn. The Agency is planning to perform air monitoring in the surrounding New

York metropolitan area. EPA has established 10 continuous (stationary) air monitoring stations near the WTC site. Thus far, from 50 air samples taken, the vast

majority of results are either non-detectable or below established levels of concern

for asbestos, lead and volatile organic compounds. The highest levels of asbestos

have been detected within one-half block of Ground Zero, where rescuers have been

provided with appropriate protective equipment.

In Lower Manhattan, the City of New York has also been involved in efforts to

clean anything coated with debris dust resulting from Tuesday’s destruction. This

involves spraying water over buildings, streets and sidewalks to wash the accumulated dust off the building and eliminate the possibility that materials would become

airborne. To complement this clean-up effort, EPA has performed 62 dust sample

analyses for the presence of asbestos and other substances. Most dust samples fall

below EPA’s definition of ‘‘asbestos containing material’’ (one percent asbestos).

Where samples have shown greater than 1 percent asbestos, EPA has operated its

10 High Efficiency Particulate Arresting, HEPA, vacuum trucks to clean the area

and then resample. EPA also used the 10 HEPA vac trucks to clean streets and

sidewalks in the Financial District in preparation for Monday’s return to business.

The Agency plans to use HEPA vac trucks to clean the lobbies of the five Federal

buildings near the World Trade Center site, and to clean the streets outside of New

York’s City Hall.

Drinking water in Manhattan was tested at 13 sampling points, in addition to one

test at the Newtown Sewage Treatment plant and pump station. Initial results of

this drinking water sampling show that levels of asbestos are well below EPA’s levels of concern.

While FEMA has provided EPA with a Total Project Ceiling cost of slightly more

than $83 million for the Agency’s cleanup efforts in New York City and in at the

Pentagon site, EPA currently is working with emergency funding of $23.7 million.

If costs exceed this level, FEMA will authorize EPA to tap additional funding in increments of $15 million. As part of the additional funding to be provided by FEMA,

EPA will be responsible for any hazardous waste disposal, general site safety and

providing sanitation facilities for many of the search and rescue workers to wash

the dust off following their shifts. EPA is coordinating with both the U.S. Air Force

Center for Environmental Excellence and the U.S. Coast Guard to quickly implement these additional responsibilities to ensure that search and rescue personnel

are provided with the maximum support and protection from hazardous materials

that may be found during their mission.

At the Pentagon explosion site in Arlington, VA, EPA has also been involved in

a variety of monitoring of air and water quality. All ambient air monitoring results,

both close to the crash site and in the general vicinity, have shown either no detection of asbestos or levels that fall well below the Agency’s level of concern. Testing

of runoff water from the disaster site does not show elevated levels of contaminants.

Given the large numbers of Department of Defense (DOD) employees returning to

work this week, EPA has worked closely with officials from DOD and from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to evaluate air and drinking

water quality and to be certain that the workplace environment will be safe.
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While careful not to impede the search, rescue and cleanup efforts at either the

World Trade Center or the Pentagon disaster sites, EPA’s primary concern has been

to ensure that rescue workers and the public are not being exposed to elevated levels of potentially hazardous contaminants in the dust and debris, especially where

practical solutions are available to reduce exposure. EPA has assisted efforts to provide dust masks to rescue workers to minimize inhalation of dust. EPA also recommends that the blast site debris continue to be kept wet, which helps to significantly reduce the amount of airborne dust which can aggravate respiratory ailments

such as asthma. On-site facilities are being made available for rescue workers to

clean themselves, change their clothing and to have dust-laden clothes cleaned separately from normal household wash.

ATTACHMENT 9

EPA PRESS RELEASE: EPA RESPONSE TO SEPTEMBER 11

SEPTEMBER 21, 2001

NYC MONITORING EFFORTS CONTINUE TO SHOW SAFE DRINKING WATER & AIR

EPA Administrator Christie Whitman announced today that the most detailed results to date of ongoing monitoring of drinking water in New York City provide additional reassurance that city residents are not being exposed to dangerous contaminants including asbestos, radiation, mercury and other metals, pesticides, PCBs and

bacteria.

‘‘As we continue to monitor drinking water in and around New York City, and

as EPA gets more comprehensive analysis of this monitoring data, I am relieved to

be able to reassure New York and New Jersey residents that a host of potential contaminants are either not detectable or are below the Agency’s concern levels,’’ Whitman said. ‘‘Results we have just received on drinking water quality show that not

only is asbestos not detectable, but also we can not detect any bacterial contamination, PCBs or pesticides,’’ she continued.

Whitman confirmed that EPA personnel, working in coordination with the New

York City Department of Environmental Protection at and around the World Trade

Center disaster site, have thus far taken a total of 13 drinking water samples from

water mains in Lower Manhattan. In addition to analyzing the samples for asbestos,

pesticides and PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls, which are mixtures of synthetic organic chemicals), EPA has also tested drinking water for metals (including mercury), and radioactivity (both alpha and beta). None of these contaminants exceeded

EPA drinking water standards.

‘‘In addition to carefully evaluating drinking water in the New York area, EPA

has taken samples at the Newtown Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant, where runoff from Lower Manhattan goes for treatment, to identify what sort of materials are

leaving the disaster site,’’ Whitman continued. ‘‘While we haven’t yet gotten results

for all possible contaminants, we do know that levels of metals and mercury are

below permit discharge limits,’’ she noted. However, Whitman did state that ‘‘following one rainstorm with particularly high runoff, we did have one isolated detection of slightly elevated levels of PCBs. This is something that we are continuing

to monitor very closely.’’ Other analysis of monitoring data taken at Newtown Creek

treatment plant shows that total suspended solids and biochemical oxygen demand,

common indicators of how well a wastewater treatment plant is operating, indicate

that the plant is working within permit limits. The Agency will continue to collect

water samples at storm water discharge points when it rains and to fully analyze

the samples for asbestos, PCBs, metals and total suspended solids.

Whitman elaborated on the repeated monitoring of ambient air both at the World

Trade Center disaster site and the surrounding area. To date the Agency has taken

97 air samples from 11 separate fixed monitoring sites in and around the ‘‘hot zone’’

and elsewhere in Lower Manhattan, and four fixed monitoring sites located in New

Jersey downwind from the blast. Only seven samples taken at or near Ground Zero

have had marginally higher levels of asbestos that exceed EPA’s level of concern.

All rescue workers in this restricted-access area are being provided with appropriate

safety equipment. Ambient air monitoring in the Financial District, where this week

people have returned to work, show levels of asbestos that are below Agency levels

of concern. Four samples taken specifically to identify if mercury is present resulted

in non-detectable readings. On September 19, EPA also took readings of outdoor air

at numerous locations around Ground Zero for chemicals including hydrogen sulfide,

volatile organic compounds (VOCs), carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide. All read-
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ings indicated that levels were normal and posed no public health concern. All air

samples taken in New Jersey have shown no detectable levels of asbestos whatsoever.

EPA has set up eight air monitors at the Fresh Kills Landfill on Staten Island,

where debris from the collapsed World Trade Center towers is being sent for criminal and forensic analysis, and eventual disposal. Initial results show no detectable

levels of asbestos. The Agency will continue to operate these air monitors at the

landfill and will test for asbestos and for particulate matter.

Whitman detailed dust sampling undertaken thus far at the World Trade Center

site, and confirmed that EPA has done a total of 101 dust samples, of which 37 were

slightly over the 1 percent asbestos (the amount above which material is considered

asbestos-containing). EPA has continued to use its 10 High Efficiency Particulate

Arresting (HEPA) filter vacuum trucks, especially in areas where dust samples

show any elevated levels of asbestos. Of the 16 samples taken in the Battery Park

City area, a residential community within two blocks of the disaster site, 12 showed

slightly elevated levels of asbestos. After using the HEPA Vac trucks to clean

streets and surfaces in Battery Park City, repeat sampling in the area showed asbestos levels that fall below concern amounts. EPA will continue to monitor this

area. The HEPA Vac trucks were also used to vacuum lobbies of Federal buildings

near the disaster site prior to having workers return.

Monitoring and cleanup efforts also continue at the Pentagon crash site. To date,

EPA has taken 140 total samples, including ambient air samples, bulk debris analysis, silica and water discharge samples. Monitoring samples have been analyzed for

asbestos and other hazardous materials.

ATTACHMENT 10

EPA RESPONSE TO SEPTEMBER 11

EPA AND OSHA WEB SITES PROVIDE ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING DATA FROM

WORLD TRADE CENTER AND SURROUNDING AREAS

DATA CONFIRMS NO SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC HEALTH RISKS; RESCUE CREWS AND NEARBY

RESIDENTS SHOULD TAKE APPROPRIATE PRECAUTIONS DATA THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30,

2001

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Christie Whitman

and U.S. Department of Labor Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and

Health (OSHA) John Henshaw announced today that both Federal agencies are providing the public with extensive additional environmental monitoring data from the

World Trade Center site and nearby areas in Manhattan, Brooklyn and New Jersey.

Both agencies have taken hundreds of samples to monitor environmental conditions

since September 11th, and have found no evidence of any significant public health

hazard to residents, visitors or workers beyond the immediate World Trade Center

area.

In response to public requests for more detailed information, EPA and OSHA are

making the results of environmental and occupational sampling available on their

sites on the World Wide Web (www.epa.gov and www.osha.gov), and will post additional data as it becomes available.

EPA and OSHA, working closely with other Federal, state, and local agencies,

have been sampling the air, dust, water, river sediments and drinking water and

analyzing them for the presence of pollutants such as asbestos, radiation, mercury

and other metals, pesticides, PCBs, or bacteria that might create health hazards.

They have found no evidence of any significant public health hazard to residents

or visitors to the New York metropolitan area.

‘‘EPA’s website now has more detailed information on environmental monitoring

information in New York City that should be very reassuring to residents, tourists

and workers, and we will continue to update that site with information as it becomes available’’ said EPA Administrator Whitman. ‘‘Our data show that contaminant levels are low or nonexistent, and are generally confined to the Trade Center

site. There is no need for concern among the general public, but residents and business owners should follow recommended procedures for cleaning up homes and businesses if dust has entered.’’

OSHA Administrator John Henshaw confirmed that workers on the site should

take appropriate steps to protect themselves, but there is no threat to public health.

‘‘We have more than 200 staffers involved in a round-the-clock effort, continually

monitoring conditions to ensure the safety and health of workers,’’ Administrator
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Henshaw said. ‘‘It is important for workers involved in the recovery and clean up

to wear protective equipment as potential hazards and conditions are constantly

changing at the site; however, our samples indicate there is no evidence of significant levels of airborne asbestos or other contaminants beyond the disaster site

itself.’’

On the whole, despite questions about potential contaminants from the Trade

Center site, EPA and OSHA data indicates there is no cause for general public concern. Residents and workers returning to buildings where dust from the Trade Center has entered the building should follow proper procedures in cleaning buildings,

but the general public should feel very reassured about the extensive environmental

monitoring data that has been collected and analyzed. Rescue and recovery crews

working on the Trade Center site should take steps to protect themselves from potential exposure to contaminants by using respirators and washing stations as recommended by EPA and OSHA.

In total, EPA and OSHA have taken 835 ambient air samples in the New York

City metropolitan area. EPA is currently collecting data from 16 fixed air monitors

at Ground Zero and in the residential and business districts around the site, and

both EPA and OSHA are using portable sampling equipment to collect data from

a range of locations throughout the area.

Out of a total of 442 air samples EPA has taken at Ground Zero and in the immediate area, only 27 had levels of asbestos above the standard EPA uses to determine

if children can re-enter a school after asbestos has been removed a stringent standard based upon assumptions of long-term exposure. OSHA has analyzed 67 air samples from the same area, and all were below the OSHA workplace standard for asbestos.

All 54 air samples from EPA’s four monitors in New Jersey found no levels above

EPA’s standard. Another 162 samples were taken from EPA’s monitors at the Fresh

Kills landfill in Staten Island, where debris from the World Trade Center is being

taken; only two exceeded EPA’s standard.

Of 177 bulk dust and debris samples collected by EPA and OSHA and analyzed

for asbestos, 48 had levels over 1 percent, the level EPA and OSHA use to define

asbestos-containing material. Although early samples from water runoff into the

Hudson and East Rivers showed some elevated levels of polychlorinated biphenyls

(PCBs), dioxin, asbestos and metals, recent results find non-detectable levels of asbestos, and PCBs and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and metals below

the level of concern.

EPA and OSHA have also conducted sampling for the presence of metals (lead,

iron oxide, zinc oxide, copper and beryllium) at Ground Zero and in surrounding

areas. None of the levels of these metals have exceeded OSHA limits.

Although EPA has measured dioxin levels in and around the World Trade Center

site that were at or above EPA’s level for taking action, the risk from dioxin is based

on long-term exposure. EPA and OSHA expect levels to diminish as soon as the remaining fires on the site are extinguished.

Of the 36 samples of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) taken around Ground

Zero to assist response workers in determining the appropriate level of respiratory

protection, several samples have been above the OSHA standard for workers. None

presented an immediate risk to workers, and the levels are expected to decline when

the fires are out.

Fact sheets with more specific information for various parts of the New York City

metropolitan area are available:

• Environmental Information from Ground Zero at the World Trade Center Site.

• Environmental Information from Lower Manhattan for Residents, Area.

• Employees and Local Business Owners.

• Other Environmental Issues Related to the Attack on the World Trade Center.

LATEST AVAILABLE DAILY ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING SUMMARY

Resources on the World Wide Web:

• U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

• New York City Department of Health.

• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
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ATTACHMENT 11

U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, REGION 2,

Edison, NY, October 5, 2001.

Mr. KELLY R. MCKINNEY, Associate Commissioner,

Bureau of Regulatory and Environmental Health Services,

New York, NY.

DEAR MR. MCKINNEY: Health and safety concerns for workers as the World Trade

Center Disaster Site (WTC) has been a concern from the beginning of the response.

In addition to standard construction/demolition site safety concerns, this Site also

poses threats to workers related to potential exposure to hazardous substances.

Sources of hazardous substances include (1) building materials from the destroyed

buildings (primarily asbestos), (2) hazardous materials that were stored in the buildings (refrigerants, hazardous wastes, ethylene glycol, compressed gas cylinders,

etc.), and (3) products of combustion being emitted from the fires that continue to

burn within the debris piles. EPA, along with a number of other Federal, State and

your agency, has been gathering information about these threats to worker health.

Air sampling by EPA and others indicates that asbestos and other contaminants are

present in the air at the WTC. EPA has recommended, and continues to recommend,

that workers at the Site were respiratory protection.

In addition, EPA has recommended, and continues to recommend, that workers

utilize personal protective equipment and the personnel wash stations to prevent

the spread of asbestos and other hazardous substances from the WTC to their

homes, cars, public transportation, food service, locations, etc. We have observed

very inconsistent compliance with our recommendations, however, we do not have

authority to enforce the worker health and safety policies for non-EPA/USCG employees. Therefore, EPA believes the Incident Commander should adopt and enforce

a site-wide Health and Safety Plan. If there is anything I can do to assist you concerning this matter, please feel free to call me at (732) 321–6656.

Sincerely yours,

BRUCE SPRAGUE, Chief,

RESPONSE AND PREVENTION BRANCH.

ATTACHMENT 12

U.S. EPA REGION 2

NEWS

EPA ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING DATA RELATED TO THE WORLD TRADE CENTER

DISASTER RESPONSE AVAILABLE TO PUBLIC

EPA INVITES PUBLIC TO NEW INFORMATION REPOSITORY IN LOWER MANHATTAN

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, October 30, 2001

(#01132) NEW YORK, NY—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has established an information repository containing environmental monitoring data gathered

in response to the World Trade Center disaster. The information is available at the

EPA library located at 290 Broadway in Lower Manhattan, which is the location of

the agency’s regional offices.

EPA began its environmental monitoring work on September 11th, shortly after

the terrorist attacks occurred. Since then, the Agency has done extensive sampling

and analysis of air quality and dust throughout Lower Manhattan and other potentially impacted areas, including Brooklyn, Staten Island and northern New Jersey.

EPA also gathered data on drinking water and river water and sediments. All of

this data is updated Monday through Friday and is available at EPA’s regional library located on the 16th Floor at 290 Broadway in Lower Manhattan. The library

is open to the public Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and on

Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

‘‘We continue to closely monitor air quality and other environmental conditions in

and around Ground Zero,’’ said William J. Muszynski, EPA Acting Regional Administrator. ‘‘While we have fortunately not found levels of contaminants that pose a

significant health risk to the general public, our efforts to monitor the area and

keep the public informed of our findings have not waned. We welcome all concerned

members of the public to our Lower Manhattan offices to review the information

we’ve gathered and to visit our Web site.’’
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Much of EPA’s monitoring data, including data maps and general environmental

summaries, is available at EPA’s Web site at www.epa.gov.
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ATTACHMENT 14

U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, REGION 2

NEWS

FOR RELEASE: Monday, March 25, 2002

FEDERAL, STATE AND CITY AGENCIES ANNOUNCE ACTIONS FOR LOWER MANHATTAN

AIR QUALITY

(#02114) New York, NY.—Today the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),

along with New York City and other Federal and State agencies, announced additional actions to address outdoor and indoor air quality. As part of the overall effort

to continue to protect air quality, DEP will remove residual debris from rooftops and

facades with EPA’s guidance. OSHA will work in a coordinated effort with the City

and EPA to ensure the safety and health of the workers performing this cleaning.

EPA and New York City will expand the program to remove residual debris from

rooftops and facades around the World Trade Center site. In addition, agencies will

work to build on an indoor air study conducted in November and December. These

actions are a result of the collaborative efforts of the EPA Administrator Christie

Whitman’s Task Force on Indoor Air and New York City Mayor Michael

Bloomberg’s Lower Manhattan Air Quality Task Force.

‘‘Actions speak louder than words, and these actions will help increase confidence

about outdoor and indoor air quality,’’ said Jane Kenny, EPA Regional Administrator. ‘‘We have been working hand-in-hand with the city to resolve the public’s

health concerns.’’

‘‘I am extremely pleased that EPA continues to work with the City to address concerns regarding air quality in Lower Manhattan,’’ said incoming DEP Commissioner

Christopher Ward.

Tests conducted since September 11th have indicated that there is no evidence of

significant long-term health risks to residents and office workers from the air quality in Lower Manhattan. Inspectors from the City and EPA have surveyed area rooftops and facades identifying buildings where residual debris remains. As removal

of debris from the World Trade Center site nears completion, city, State and Federal

agencies are committed to continuing to protect and improve the downtown environment.

City, State and Federal health and environmental agencies are working collaboratively to continue to assess the cleaning that was conducted and determine testing

criteria. Building on earlier tests, EPA will conduct field work to assess cleanup

techniques and provide information for ongoing cleaning. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, with support from the New York City Department of

Health and EPA, is planning to expand the indoor air study conducted in December

2001.

As these projects are developed, the Federal Emergency Management Agency

(FEMA) will fund components that are eligible under its programs. As the agency

responsible for coordinating Federal assistance in support of the city’s long-term recovery efforts, FEMA is working closely with all concerned agencies.

Both the EPA and New York City Task Forces will work cooperatively to continue

to protect air quality. The Lower Manhattan Air Quality Hotline (212–221–8635)

will continue to be the principal point of information dissemination to businesses,

residents and visitors regarding air quality and environmental issues in and around

the World Trade Center site. The City’s Task Force will also coordinate additional

community outreach and local initiatives as part of the broader effort to build public

confidence in the downtown environment.

For more information, call the City’s Lower Manhattan Air Quality Hotline at

212–221–8635 between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. In addition, information can be found on: EPA’s Web site at: www.epa.gov; OSHA’s Web site at:

www.osha.gov; NYC DOH’s Web site at: www.ci.nyc.ny.us/html/doh/home.htm; and

NYCDEDP’s Web site at: www.nyc.gov/html/dep/html/airmonit.html.

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