Common Areas and HVAC Fact Sheet

RESIDENTIAL DUST CLEANUP PROGRAM
(This Program Ended in 2003)

MESSAGE CENTER
(212) 637-3435

TESTING RESULTS DATA

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

Mold Information From NYC Department of Health & Mental Hygiene:

[[Note: Detailed and technical information is available in the Scopes of Work for Monitoring and Cleaning.]

People living south of Canal, Allen and Pikes Streets in lower Manhattan who were concerned that dust from the collapse of the World Trade Center was still present in their residences were able to request assistance from EPA. Assistance offered included the evaluation and cleanup (if necessary) of the common areas and Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning systems (HVACs) of residential housing as well as the cleaning and/or testing of individual residential units .

Cleanup work was conducted by contractors and workers (the Cleanup Contractor) certified by New York State and New York City. Separate, third-party contractors, also licensed by New York State, oversaw the cleanup work and conducted all testing (the Project Monitor). Further oversight were provided by EPA personnel. All personnel involved in this program carried an appropriate photo identification.

Owners and managers of residential buildings and coop boards could request to have their building's common areas cleaned and HVAC system evaluated and cleaned, if necessary. If a tenant association made this request, EPA sought agreement by building owner or manager. The Agency encouraged tenant associations to work to coordinate residents' requests within a given building.

After receiving the request, common areas such as the building lobby, hallways, stairways and elevator interiors were cleaned. Other common areas including laundry rooms, utility rooms, compactor rooms, and elevator shafts were evaluated and cleaned as needed.

Unless EPA approved otherwise (based on the circumstance of an individual building), no residential, common space or HVAC system were cleaned until the exterior of the building were cleaned. The New York City Department of Environmental Protection cleaned building exteriors. EPAl then evaluated, and if necessary cleaned, an HVAC system upon agreement from the building owner or manager. Finally, EPA cleaned residences and common spaces.

The Project Monitor provided daily oversight of cleaning operations. EPA staff also visited the buildings to oversee work. When cleaning was completed, the Project Monitor did a visual inspection. If any dust was seen, the residence were e re-cleaned as necessary. When the visual inspection found the residence to be dust free, final air sampling were authorized. Air samplers ran for approximately eight hours. These samplers drew in a measured volume of room air and collected dust particles from the air on a filter. The collected dust was then examined in a laboratory for asbestos.

EPA notified building residents and owners of the results of the post-cleanup airborne asbestos testing.