Bill de Blasio Public Advocate for the City of New York

Assembly Member Sheldon Silver Speaker, New York State Assembly

December 11, 2012 Commissioner Carter H. Strickland, Jr. New York City Department of Environmental Protection 59-17 Junction Boulevard Flushing, NY, 11373 Dear Commissioner Strickland, Hurricane Sandy unleashed a deluge of pollutants into our air and water systems, and the Department of Environmental Protection has done a commendable job in assessing and containing many these potential health hazards. As New York City transitions from emergency response to rebuilding, airborne pollution remains a persistent concern. The Department has already assessed air quality indicators relating to critical contaminants like asbestos, and we applaud the Departments monitoring efforts and public disclosure of these tests. However, we are concerned that there are other air quality contaminants that pose similar threats to public safety and deserve similarly rigorous monitoring. First, we are concerned that airborne concentrations of mold and mildew will increasingly become a public health issue. Given the high degree of water damage and the limited ability for home- and building-owners to control the degree of moisture in their structures, we are witnessing the explosion of microbial growth in affected communities citywide. While it is the collective responsibility of multiple City agencies to ensure that demolition and reconstruction activity addresses potential mold growth, the Department of Environmental Protection must also monitor the prevalence of biological pollutants such as mold and mildew. This information will ensure New Yorkers understand the health dangers of high concentrations of microbial contaminants, and know how to protect themselves and prevent chronic illnesses like asthma from worsening. Second, there are a number of locations across the city where electrical restoration has not yet been completed, resulting in widespread and sustained use of generators. We are concerned that their heavy use is affecting air quality both inside and outside of buildings. Many of these models are not intended for use in urban environments. In particular, in densely populated Lower

Manhattan, large buildings are utilizing generators and residents have expressed concern regarding their impact on air quality throughout the area. In light of these concerns, we ask you to please provide information regarding the following questions: Is the Department regularly testing air quality indicators for biological and other air pollutants, other than asbestos? What locations are regularly monitored for air contaminants resulting from Hurricane Sandy? How is the Department supporting homeowners and large building owners in assessing air quality inside of buildings? Has the Department established firm safety standards for concentrations of pollutants from generators, mold and mildew? How is the Department monitoring those thresholds across the city? New York City has learned many difficult lessons regarding the long-term health hazards of airborne pollution over the past ten years. We need to apply those lessons if we are going to prevent a public health crisis in the months and years ahead. We urge the City to undertake the most rigorous monitoring possible. Sincerely,

Bill de Blasio Public Advocate for the City of New York

Assembly Member Sheldon Silver Speaker, New York State Assembly