|
|
The LMCCC program earned a 2007 EPA Environmental Quality Award
|
Air monitoring data from the Lower Manhattan Construction Command Center (LMCCC) shows that air quality in Lower Manhattan has improved over the past several years. The agency’s Environmental Compliance program has helped minimize construction-related air pollution south of Canal Street, despite the unprecedented amount of development taking place.
“We are extremely proud of the latest statistics showing that construction sites are taking steps to reduce emissions by using ultra-low-sulfur diesel fuel in their vehicles and controlling dust,” said LMCCC Executive Director Robert Harvey. “These and other important steps have translated into cleaner air for the people who live and work downtown.”
The LMCCC has implemented Environmental Performance Commitments (EPCs) for all of project sponsors involved in rebuilding in Lower Manhattan. EPCs focus on construction techniques, design elements, and operating procedures to reduce potentially adverse environmental impacts from construction. The LMCCC program, which in 2007 earned an EPA Environmental Quality Award, helps ensure compliance through air and noise monitoring, equipment inspection and certification, site inspections, mobile monitoring, data analysis, and other methods.
Accorded to agency data, there has been an overall decrease in air pollution in Lower Manhattan for several years, including concentrations of particulates. The outlook so far for 2009 is a continued downward trend in particulates -- translating to a ongoing improvement in Lower Manhattan air quality.
The LMCCC Environmental Compliance Department operates four stationary air-monitoring stations surrounding major construction projects in Lower Manhattan. For the past three and a half years, overall air quality concentrations of particulate matter (PM) 2.5 (emissions from construction vehicles) and PM 10 (dust particles from construction sites) were below national air-quality standards
|
