Mr. Colvin of DEC summarized how the terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon have impacted DEC, the Bureau of Marine Resources:

• Division of Law Enforcement personnel have been detailed to assist emergency and rescue agencies involved in securing the WTC site;
  
  
• Electronic communications within DEC have been seriously disrupted. The Bureau of Marine Resources access to the Internet is disabled for an undetermined period of time.
  
  
• In conjunction with the State Emergency Management Office, DEC has established an operation center in the agency headquarters in Albany and a forward command post in Manhattan. One objectives is to begin a process, in conjunction with other agencies, of assessing the long-term environmental impact of the destruction of the World Trade Center. Air quality impacts are the immediate concern, along with initiation of efforts to assess the need for monitoring of water quality and, possibly, aquatic biotic impacts.
  
  
• Another issue is arranging for disposal of the materials being removed from the World trade Center site. Most of the material will be initially transported to the Fresh Kills landfill. At the landfill, officials will be able to inspect the material more closely for a final decision to be made on its disposition. There is a very large quantity of structural steel and possibly concrete on the site. Possible use of this material for placement on artificial reefs is being assessed by DEC and the US Army Corps of Engineers.
  
  
• The hard clam transplant program in Raritan Bay was abruptly halted on the day of the tragedy because vessel transportation throughout New York Harbor was closed down immediately. The program has been restarted with assurance from the Coast Guard that the waters below the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge are clear for that kind of operation.
  
  
• The Fulton Fish Market has been relocated to Hunt’s Point in the Bronx. The facilities at Hunt’s Point needed to be reviewed to assure that they are in compliance with shellfish sanitation regulations for the certified shippers of shellfish and DEC inspectors confirm that they are.

Asked whether the Council would have any input on what is to be done with the rubble from the World Trade Center, Mr. Colvin responded that decisions are being made very quickly so that a material disposition plan can be developed and implemented to handle the huge volume of material. The Council will likely not be able to provide input in these decisions. Councilor McBride made a motion that the Council express its support for DEC to effect the immediate removal of the remains of the World Trade Center and to expedite whatever decisions and regulatory actions the agency deems appropriate to responsibly and safely handle the vast quantities of rubble and other materials. The motion was adopted by unanimous vote.