Pictures from the World Trade Center Response

Monitoring the Air and Water

Photograph of air quality monitoring activities at Vesey and West Street in New York City. For months after September 11, EPA took samples of the air, dust, water, river sediments and drinking water and analyzed them for the presence of pollutants that might pose a health risk to response workers at the World Trade Center and Pentagon sites and the public. These monitoring data are available both in table form and in summaries.

Dust Suppression and Removal

Photo of vacuum truck on Wall Street Within days of the disaster, EPA had ten vacuum cleaner trucks blitzing the financial district. Power washers cleaned building fronts and wet down streets and sidewalks to capture the dust prior to vacuuming.

Once Wall Street reopened, three of the giant vacuums, each capable of capturing 15 tons of solid material, began systematically cleaning streets and sidewalks, parking areas, parks and playgrounds in the impacted area. Sandboxes were the most time consuming . all the sand had to be removed and replaced.

Photo of truck being washed to control the spread of dust. To insure that dust was not tracked into the clean areas by people and vehicles leaving the work zone, EPA established a number of wash stations . Workers coming off the site had their boots washed. Cars and trucks were power-washed and debris being hauled to piers was wetted down and covered so dust did not fly about.

Map of areas that have been cleaned This map shows the areas that were cleaned as of October 15, 2001. The recovery effort concluded in June 2002.

More Pictures

Follow links to larger versions of each photo. An article about EPA's experiences in the aftermath of the attacks provides context to these photos.

The North Tower as seen from a NYC Police helicopter Larger picture	View from EPA offices as second plane hit the South Tower Larger picture
The dust cloud approaches Chambers Street (shot from NYC Police helicopter) Larger picture	Setting up air monitors in New Jersey Larger picture
Some monitoring was done on the burning debris pile Larger picture	Vacuum truck working in front of the New York Stock Exchange Larger picture
Heavy dust accumulation in store close to WTC Larger picture	Potentially hazardous material awaiting removal Larger picture
Air monitor near debris pile Larger picture	Volunteers and professionals alike rushed to help with recovery. Despite advice to wear respirators, many did not Larger picture
Personal wash stations for recovery workers. Larger picture	EPA central wash station framed by towers of light Larger picture
Recovery workers in EPA's central wash station Larger picture	The enormity of the debris pile (courtesy NOAA) Larger picture
Recovered metal debris at Fresh Kills landfill Larger picture	Sifting debris at Fresh Kills landfill Larger picture
Hundreds of damaged cars were recycled at Fresh Kills Larger picture	Administrator Whitman and Mayor Giuliani opening EPA's central wash station Larger picture
Map of asbestos air monitors Larger picture	Regional Administrator Jane M. Kenny announcing EPA's dust cleanup plan Larger picture
Some of the hundreds of EPA employees working on WTC-related issues Larger picture