Overview
- Investigators located the long-unproduced boxes at a Department of Environmental Protection facility following a City Council resolution led by Gale Brewer that directed the Department of Investigation to search.
- Lawyers for advocates have reviewed about two dozen boxes so far, and DEP is scanning additional materials before more are released.
- Early-reviewed records include air testing for asbestos, metals and other chemicals, plus a 2002 Law Department memo instructing agencies to preserve materials for potential litigation.
- City Hall says it has begun turning over documents to plaintiffs' counsel and is working on a production schedule, citing pending litigation for not commenting further.
- FDNY union leaders and 9/11 advocates are demanding full public release and accountability, saying earlier access could have sped diagnoses and benefits; attorneys have moved to depose DEP FOIL appeals officer Russell Pecunies as roughly 400 FDNY members are reported to have died from 9/11-related illnesses.