JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

SUBCOMMITTEES:

JERROLD NADLER
8TH DISTRICT, NEW YORK
REPLY TO: WASHINGTON OFFICE: 2234 RAYBURN HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON, DC 20515 (202) 225-5635 DISTRICT OFFICE: 201 VARICK STREET SUITE 669 NEW YORK, NY 10014 (212) 367-7350 DISTRICT OFFICE: 445 NEPTUNE AVENUE BROOKLYN, NY 11224 (718) 373-3198 Web: www.nadler.house.gov

RANKING MEMBER
CONSTITUTION INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, COMPETITION, AND THE INTERNET

Congress of the United States

House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE

SUBCOMMITTEES: HIGHWAYS AND TRANSIT RAILROADS, PIPELINES AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS

ASSISTANT WHIP

November 27, 2012 Lisa P. Jackson Administrator Environmental Protection Agency Ariel Rios Building 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20460 Dear Administrators Jackson and Fugate: Thank you for all you have done to help New York recover from Hurricane Sandy. The first responders, agency personnel, and all those involved in the response operations are to be commended for helping our communities recover from the storm. I remain concerned, however, about the environmental conditions in homes and buildings affected by the storm, and respectfully request your assistance to ensure that peoples living and work spaces are adequately tested and remediated. Many residents of the low-lying areas of New York City including lower Manhattan, Red Hook, Sea Gate, Coney Island and Brighton Beach in my district live in buildings that were flooded. Now that utilities have returned to most areas, many residents, including those who live in public housing, are back in these buildings. Yet, in many cases, it is unclear whether these homes are safe from mold, sewage or other hazardous substances that could adversely affect residents health. As you know, exposure to mold and other environmental toxins can cause respiratory problems and other serious health issues. In order for us to ensure the safety of these residents, it is imperative that the Environmental Protection Agency conduct or oversee comprehensive testing to make absolutely certain that peoples homes are safe to inhabit. Given New Yorks recent history with environmental hazards caused by the collapse of the World Trade Center, we know all too well the danger presented by indoor contamination. We must not repeat the same mistakes of 9/11 by leaving people to their own devices to clean up complex toxins without proper guidance or assistance from the federal government. Please let me know what steps have been taken in these affected buildings, and what steps will be taken in the future to ensure that the environment is safe for affected New Yorkers. W. Craig Fugate Administrator Federal Emergency Management Agency Department of Homeland Security 500 C Street, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20472

JUDICIARY COMMITTEE
SUBCOMMITTEES:

JERROLD NADLER
8TH DISTRICT, NEW YORK
REPLY TO: WASHINGTON OFFICE: 2234 RAYBURN HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON, DC 20515 (202) 225-5635 DISTRICT OFFICE: 201 VARICK STREET SUITE 669 NEW YORK, NY 10014 (212) 367-7350 DISTRICT OFFICE: 445 NEPTUNE AVENUE BROOKLYN, NY 11224 (718) 373-3198 Web: www.nadler.house.gov

RANKING MEMBER
CONSTITUTION INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, COMPETITION, AND THE INTERNET

Congress of the United States

House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE

SUBCOMMITTEES: HIGHWAYS AND TRANSIT RAILROADS, PIPELINES AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS

ASSISTANT WHIP

As we continue to recover from the damage caused by Hurricane Sandy, I stand ready to work with you to address the ongoing needs of all affected communities. Thank you for your prompt consideration this matter, and for your continued support of the response and recovery efforts in New York. Sincerely,

JERROLD NADLER Member of Congress

CC: New York State DEC Commissioner Joseph Martens New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg