EPA's Lower Manhattan Test and Clean Program SERVICES FOR BUILDING COMMON AREAS Owners, boards of cooperatives or condominiums and managers of residential or commercial buildings can request to have their building's common areas and HVAC system evaluated and cleaned, as necessary. Those who request services must certify that they are fully authorized to do so by signing a "Building Request and Consent for Access Form" and providing appropriate legal documentation of such authority such as, a resolution of a condominium or cooperative board, a deed, long-term lease for the entire building, or other legally sufficient indication of ownership and/or authority. Residential tenants must register their individual units with the Lower Manhattan Test and Clean program by calling the hotline at: 1-888-747-7725. Individual employers or employees should contact the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) or National Institute for Safety and Health (NIOSH) to request evaluations of conditions in their workplaces. http://www.osha.gov/as/opa/worker/complain.html http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/hhe/Request.html EPA will only test common areas such as building lobbies and hallways. Multiple air samples will be taken where HVAC outlets discharge into common areas of buildings. EPA will test for the same contaminants-lead, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), asbestos and man-made vitreous fibers in building common areas as in individual residential units. We will use the same contaminant levels to determine whether cleanups are needed in residential units and in common areas. If lead is found at levels above the benchmark and a cleanup is required, EPA or one of its contractors will conduct a survey of possible sources of the lead such as lead-based paint. Similarly, if asbestos is found, EPA will look for possible sources of asbestos such as thermal pipe insulation, floor and ceiling tiles, or other nearby sources. If necessary, cleanups will be conducted by a state or city certified contractor with EPA oversight. To register, call 1-888-747-7725 ------- UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY REGION 2 290 BROADWAY NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10007-1866 Tracking # Dear NAME: Thank you for registering for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Lower Manhattan Test and Clean Program. We have included a packet of information about the Test and Clean Program for common areas in buildings and how the program works. In addition to step-by-step information about the program, we have included information about the contaminants for which we are testing and the conditions that would lead to a cleanup. With this information, we hope to answer any questions you may have and to assist you with the process. The informational materials are also available in Spanish and Chinese by calling 1-888-747-7725. In the enclosed package, you will also find the "Building Request and Consent for Access Form" and a questionnaire for those submitting the form. Please return the signed access form and appropriate legal documentation of authority to sign for the building. Kindly provide answers to the questionnaire, the signed certification, and enclose the supplemental documents requested. Please mail these documents to: Pat Evangelista US EPA 290 Broadway, 26th Fl New York, New York 10007-1866 The eligible area for this program includes the area of Lower Manhattan south of Canal Street and west of Allen and Pike Streets. Please note that based on the number of people requesting participation, there is a possibility that program resources will not be sufficient to provide for everyone who registers. EPA will prioritize the units/buildings it can test and if necessary clean based on closest proximity to Ground Zero. After you submit the required documents to EPA and are selected for the program, an EPA contractor will telephone you to schedule a date and time for an initial meeting. All documents and forms must be submitted and postmarked by April 30, 2007 in order for EPA to begin the prioritization and selection process. All personnel involved in implementing this program will carry appropriate photo identification. Do not allow anyone into your building without reviewing the appropriate photo identification. We hope this packet of information is helpful and informative. Please call EPA's hotline at 1-888- 747-7725 if you have any further questions. Sincerely, Pat Evangelista World Trade Center Coordinator New York City Response and Recovery Operations ------- |