Records located in the archive

Public statement / report

2001-09-13

EPA Administrator Christine Todd Whitman, press release.

"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."

Portal record

[2001-09-11] sample; report dated 2001-11-20

EPA Special Investigative Audit #14 (IT Corporation for EPA), bulk dust results.

"The highest result, 4.5% Chrysotile, was reported from a sample collected at Murray Street and West Side Highway"

Public statement / report

2001-09-16

Office of the Mayor, press release on workers returning to Lower Manhattan.

"All central air conditioning and ventilation systems have been cleaned, and air quality has been tested and deemed safe."

Portal record

[2001-09-19] sample; same report

The highest bulk asbestos level reported in the audit.

"38% Chrysotile from Ground Zero"

Public statement / report

2001-09-18

EPA Administrator Whitman, press release.

"I am glad to reassure the people of New York and Washington, D.C. that their air is safe to breath[e] and their water is safe to drink."

Portal record

2001-10 (undated; the portal labels it October 2001)

Memo to Deputy Mayor Robert Harding on legislative options to limit the City's liability.

"According to the Law Department, there are approximately 35,000 potential plaintiffs … it is estimate that 10,000 would file a claim."

Public statement / report

2001-09-21

EPA, press release on 97 air samples.

Residents and workers "are not being exposed to contaminants such as asbestos, radiation, mercury and other metals."

Portal record

2001-10 (same memo)

Among the potential lawsuits listed under "Aftermath":

"Health advisories caused individuals either to return to the area too soon (causing toxic exposure or emotional harm) or too late (causing economic hardship)."

Public statement / report

2001-10-03

Assistant Secretary of Labor John Henshaw (OSHA), joint EPA/OSHA release.

"Our samples indicate there is no evidence of significant levels of airborne asbestos or other contaminants beyond the disaster site itself."

Portal record

2001-11-20 (reading dated 2001-11-08)

Same EPA audit, volatile organic compounds section.

"The recent high value for benzene of 180,000 ppb on November 8th"

Public statement / report

2002-02-11

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, Senate field hearing (S. Hrg. 107-524).

The outdoor air quality around the site "is generally meeting standards and has improved."

Portal record

2002-02-28

Memo from Special Advisor Ester Fuchs to the Corporation Counsel, Health Commissioner, Deputy Mayor, and press office.

"if Nadler's concerns are justified, we are not [informing] people of the real health risks in lower Manhattan"
"At the least we should discontinue telling people to clean their apartments with wet mops and rags."

Public statement / report

2003-08-21

EPA Office of Inspector General, Report 2003-P-00012.

"when EPA made a September 18 announcement that the air was 'safe' to breathe, the Agency did not have sufficient data and analyses to make the statement."

Portal record

2002-05-16

"Clean-up Initiative" note of a conversation with EPA's Kathy Callahan.

"I stressed that we would not use the word 'risk' in any letters as it would defeat the purpose of creating public confidence."

Public statement / report

—

Public statements after mid-2002 are being collected.

Portal record

2002-07-13

DEP Asbestos Control Program laboratory report, 15 John Street, west facade ledge.

"Asbestos Present: Yes" · "Chrysotile 1" (%) · "Date Collected: 07/13/02"