October 29, 2004—The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released for public comment a draft sampling plan for lower Manhattan to determine if the area has contaminants from the collapsed World Trade Center towers at levels of concern. A panel has met seven times since March primarily to address the development of a design for a sampling program to determine the geographic extent of the collapsed towers’ impact on the indoor environment.
Samples of dust will be taken from residences, schools, offices, public buildings and commercial spaces, and analyzed to determine if the chemicals found are at levels of concern. EPA is soliciting feedback on the draft sampling plan from citizens, residents, workers, building managers, and anyone else with an interest.
The draft sampling plan was published October 21 in the Federal Register, so the public comment period will end November 19, 2004. EPA will consider the public comment submissions in revising the sampling plan. The draft plan and directions for submitting comments are available from EPA/WTC/Panel; the final plan will be posted there as well. Hard copies of the draft sampling plan are available on request by calling 800/803-2833. The docket identification number, ORD-2004-0003, must be included on all written or electronic submissions.
