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Federal environmental officials and local residents are blasting the state agency in charge of Ground Zero for suddenly altering plans for the demolition of the highly contaminated Deutsche Bank building.
The angry notice from the Environmental Protection Agency comes just days before contractors are supposed to begin cleansing the structure of a toxic brew of asbestos, lead, cadmium, dioxin and other poisons deposited after the 9/11 collapse of the twin towers.
The feds are upset that a subcontractor assigned to the tricky demolition job made "significant changes" to the debris removal plan that could affect "public safety, health and the environment."
Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-Manhattan), local residents and other elected officials also are upset at the Lower Manhattan Development Corp., which oversees Ground Zero, for what they termed a "dangerously inadequate" demolition plan.
Said Kimberly Flynn of the 9/11 Environmental Action group: "Now the toxic tower is coming down - imminently - but we do not yet have an EPA-approved demolition plan in place."
The floor-by-floor demolition is scheduled to begin next month. Its $46 million cost has risen to $52 million due to increased insurance requirements, state officials said.
Before a single brick can be removed, however, the building's interior must be cleansed, a process expected to begin during the next two weeks.
In several letters over the past month, the EPA has been seeking explanations for "significant differences" from the original approved demolition plan.
In a March 20 letter, the EPA noted five unapproved additions by John Galt Co., the subcontractor responsible for the toxic cleanup and the demolition: a concrete crushing machine on the upper floors, construction of a chute through which crushed concrete would plummet to the ground, a five-story buffer zone between the toxic cleanup and the actual demolition, use of a floating "roof" as the work progresses and the use of debris as fill material at the site.
Pat Evangelista, the EPA official in charge of the Ground Zero cleanup, warned the LMDC that the added techniques "will of course have an impact on potential releases of contaminants." He said additional information and analysis was "essential to our ongoing responsibility to protect public health and the environment."
EPA spokeswoman Mary Meeks said yesterday that the agency had received an LMDC response and was reviewing it.
The LMDC contended the chute was in the original plan and would obviously require concrete crushing equipment. The use of debris as fill is "environmentally appropriate," and the "floating roof" was previously discussed, the LMDC added.
The demolition has been plagued with problems. The first firm hired was booted when its demolition plans weren't approved by the EPA and other officials.
Federal regulators cited one contractor after a worker fell off a scaffold last December and are now investigating a second accident two weeks ago when a worker fell 400 feet into a sub-basement.
Also within the last month, workers found bits of human bone inside the building believed to be from victims of the 9/11 attacks.
I sent an e-mail out late yesterday to Emily Brown, the project manager for the job. It was sent after she went home. I wanted her to confirm the height of the fall; the building is 517', so I guess a 400' fall would be plausible. As soon as I hear back from her I will post her reply.
Demolition of the highly contaminated Deutsche Bank building near Ground Zero cannot go forward until an "acceptable" safety plan is in place - delaying the project at least until June, the Environmental Protection Agency warned yesterday.
In a letter to the state agency overseeing the tricky project, an EPA official said the agency has numerous concerns with the current plan to tear down the dust-filled tower at 130 Liberty St. floor by floor.
Worried about a release of toxic dust, the EPA's Pat Evangelista warned that demolition will not begin until the Lower Manhattan Development Corp. "has provided ... an acceptable plan."
Demolition was scheduled to start this month, but now it's off until June or later.
Two weeks ago, the EPA demanded an explanation for "significant changes" made to the demolition plan submitted by the development corporation.
There have been two worker injuries at the site, and local politicians and neighborhood groups have called the demolition plan "dangerously inadequate."
In a letter released yesterday, the EPA took issue with the current proposal to use heavy concrete crushing equipment on the top floors of the 40-story tower - and send the debris down a chute to the street.
The EPA denied the LMDC's claim that the chute, the concrete crusher and several other disputed methods were part of plans approved by the federal agency last fall.
"The regulatory agencies are reviewing the information about this newly proposed chute, and we have concerns about it," wrote Evangelista.
Yesterday, EPA spokeswoman Mary Mears said the federal agency and several state agencies are examining the latest plan for demolition and would respond soon.
The demolition of 130 Liberty was estimated to cost $46 million but has risen to $52 million due to increased insurance costs, officials said.
I got an e-mail today regarding the LMDC and The EPA:
In recent days, you may have read or heard news accounts claiming that a disagreement between LMDC and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is delaying the deconstruction of 130 Liberty St. We want to assure you that this is not true and that the project remains on schedule for completion in the spring of 2007.
As you know, a comprehensive Deconstruction Plan was approved by the EPA, as well as City and State regulatory agencies, in September of 2005. The Deconstruction Plan detailed how the building would be cleaned of potentially hazardous contaminants (Phase I) and also outlined how the building components would be dismantled after they are cleaned (Phase II) . As has been reported in previous e-updates, the Phase I cleaning of the building has begun according to the protocols in the approved Deconstruction Plan. In addition, more detailed plans have been developed for Phase II, which is scheduled to begin in June. These plans are under review by the Department of Buildings in consultation with EPA and other regulatory agencies.
EPA has, in fact, asked for more details about the techniques that will be used during Phase II. We are now working with EPA and the other regulatory agencies to address any remaining questions and concerns in a manner that ensures the health and safety of the community and the workers.
We regret that inaccurate information has been disseminated and will continue to keep you updated on the project.
Michael Haberman
VP for Community Development
Lower Manhattan Development Corp.
One LibertyPlaza, 20th Floor
New York, NY10006
More trouble for the Deutsche Bank building
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