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 A View of the World Trade Center Site from the Hudson River.
 The Plan for Lower Manhattan > 130 Liberty Street > Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
The Deutsche Bank Building at 130 Liberty Street
Methodology and Timing How will the 130 Liberty Street building be cleaned and deconstructed? Top ^The proposed Phase I Deconstruction Plan submitted for review to the government regulators provides that the 130 Liberty Street building will be deconstructed in two phases:
The goal is to complete the work in 11 sequences beginning with the top 4 floors and continuing downward in 4 floor sections towards the basement. The sequencing and the schedule of these activities will be finalized after approval of the plan. Development of the two-phased Deconstruction Plan was based on the results of the Initial Building Characterization Study Report that was released for public review and comment in September 2004. The information provided in the current Deconstruction Plan addresses the Phase I work only. A Phase II plan will be developed and presented prior to the start of that work. The draft Phase I plan is available for public viewing on LMDC's website at www.RenewNYC.com. Please note that the 130 Liberty Street Draft Phase I Deconstruction Plan is currently under review by the regulators and subject to change. Containment How will the LMDC ensure that contaminants are not released from the building? Top ^The proposed Deconstruction Plan incorporates results and recommendations from the September 14, 2004 Initial Building Characterization Study Report. Therefore, the proposed Deconstruction Plan does address contaminants identified in the Study and is designed to be:
During Phase IA activities, LMDC's contractors and subcontractors will be enclosing the work area and establishing negative air pressure to ensure potential contaminants remain in the building. Once negative air pressure has been achieved, licensed abatement subcontractors will perform limited soft strip to create an open work area, followed by the removal of Asbestos Containing Building Materials (ACBM). Following this will be a thorough cleaning to remove any fibers that may have been released during the abatement of ACBM, and to remove the settled WTC dust. Before any work is performed, the stairwells, elevator shafts and all other vertical connections between floors will be sealed properly in order to prevent dust from reentering spaces/floors already cleaned and cleared. These vertical connections (stairwells and shafts) will be cleaned last once all floors of the building have been cleaned. Once the Phase IA cleaning and abatement activities have progressed enough, a safe "buffer" zone will be established to allow the Phase IB work activities to begin. At this point, the Phase IB activities (soft strip and interior gut) will be initiated. There will always be a safe "buffer" zone between these activities to ensure that areas are properly cleaned before materials are removed. All work will be stopped in the event that excessive airborne fibers are detected outside the containment area, if a break is detected in the containment barriers, or if there is loss of negative air pressure. In this event, appropriate correction action will be taken immediately. Protective Measures Will there be a plan for residents and workers that provides for emergency procedures and contact information? Top ^Section 3 of the Deconstruction Plan is the proposed Emergency Action Plan (EAP). This plan was developed using comments received from the public during the 30-day public comment period on the Initial Building Characterization Study Report that began on September 14, 2004 and ended on October 13, 2004. The purpose of the EAP is to outline roles and responsibilities of LMDC, its contractors, and appropriate emergency personnel and first responders, in the event of an emergency. The plan identifies potential emergencies and appropriate responses in the event that any incident occurs during the Phase I deconstruction process. The plan also identifies contact information for LMDC and its Contractor, as well as URS Corporation, who will be providing construction oversight on behalf of the LMDC. The Emergency Action Plan also contains pre-emergency planning activities. Prior to commencement of work, LMDC's Emergency Coordinator and the LMDC will meet with the FDNY, NYPD, OEM, and Battery Park City Certified Emergency Response Team (CERT) to present the EAP and discuss any required collaborative preparation as well as ensure they are informed of the existing building conditions. Throughout deconstruction activities the LMDC Emergency Coordinator will conduct regular emergency preparedness meetings with on-site personnel to ensure they are provided with the most up-to-date information and procedures.
LMDC will continue to coordinate with members of the community and stakeholder groups to identify how residents and workers will be notified in the event of emergency situations. What measures or precautions will be taken to protect nearby residents during the deconstruction process? Top ^LMDC and Contractor will utilize extensive measures to protect the health and safety of residents and workers. In addition to those measures discussed in response to other FAQs above, these measures include:
Public Involvement How will LMDC keep the public informed throughout the project? Top ^LMDC will be hosting a public information session in January to provide the community with an overview of the Phase I Deconstruction Plan and to hear community comments and questions. A formal notice of this meeting will be given once the date is confirmed. In the meantime, the public is encouraged to check LMDC's website at www.RenewNYC.com for project updates. Contractor's General Superintendent will also participate in regular neighborhood meetings to directly address the concerns and questions of the surrounding community. Additionally, the community may sign up for 130 Liberty Street E-Updates, to receive updates and to keep informed on the progress of the 130 Liberty Street Deconstruction Project. Community members are also able to submit electronic comments at this same website. For more information, please contact: Kate Millea, Community Liaison Testing – Methodology What type of testing will occur during deconstruction activities? Top ^Testing proposed during deconstruction activities will focus primarily on air monitoring and waste stream testing. Section 2 of the Deconstruction Plan outlines the Ambient Air Monitoring Plan. The program consists of:
Will there be independent testing and monitoring conducted? Top ^ Internal air monitoring will be conducted regularly as part of normal procedures outlined in the worker health and safety plans governing each contractor and subcontractor. While this work is occurring, Contractor will have ample deconstruction field oversight as well as environmental project monitoring. Some of these activities include:
Additionally in September 2004, LMDC retained the services of Kroll Associates as an independent integrity monitor. Kroll's role is to monitor compliance; prevent fraud, cost abuse, and corruption; review plans, policies and procedures to identify and assess risk; and design and implement a corruption prevention program. Kroll's staff is an integral part of the project team. In this role, Kroll will assist LMDC in assuring that environmental testing is conducted and reported properly in accordance with approved plans. Community Health/ Environmental Protection How will the deconstruction activities affect residential areas? Top ^LMDC is committed to minimizing project impacts to the surrounding community. The deconstruction of the 130 Liberty Street building will be completed in compliance with the rules and regulations that govern all construction activities in New York City, including the recently passed Coordinated Construction Act. Most of the Phase I activities will be occurring within the confines of the building, which means that the curtain wall of the building will serve as a natural barrier for any noise and vibration. The hours of operation for Phase I will be 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM for all trades except elevator operators who will work from 6:30 AM to 4:00 PM. LMDC will also implement general construction controls, and require that all contractors and subcontractors use ultra-low sulfur fuel, thereby reducing the amount of air pollutants released. Regulatory Agencies Why are there so many agencies involved in this project? Who are they and what is their role? Top ^The LMDC, the owner of the building at 130 Liberty Street is a joint State-City corporation governed by a Board of Directors appointed by the Governor of New York and by the Mayor of New York. Furthermore, the LMDC is funded by a Community Development Block grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. LMDC will comply with all applicable, city, state and federal regulations regarding the deconstruction of the building. The LMDC is submitting the Deconstruction Plan to key regulatory agencies including;
The LMDC also consults with:
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