To All,
Below please find a letter that was sent out to family members shortly after it was revealed in the NY Times that human remains were found in the Deutsche BanK Building (4/14/2006). Please take a moment and read it carefully.
Just today another 19 human remains were found in the building nearly a year later.
Almost a year later and we do not even know if any of the nearly 800 remains from the building have been tested.
Almost a year later and we have still not been told where the debris from the building, debris that never went through the proper sifting process as it was collected prior to the Water Street facility, was transported.
Almost a year later and we have not even gotten 1 positive DNA match from the remains recovered.
Almost a year later and all we continue to get are false promises and misinformation.
The number of remains will certainly increase as the remainder of the building is dismantled and the southern portion of the haul road material is sifted and the Liberty Street section is excavated.
How much longer do we have to wait before the mayor admits that he has made a mistake?
How much longer do we have to wait before an outside agency is allowed to take over the process?
How much longer?
Put It Above Ground
Dear family member,
We would like to provide you with a full and accurate description of the protocols all workers (supervisors, foremen, laborers, technicians, consultants, suppliers, etc.) involved in any aspect of the rooftop examination of the Deutsche Bank building at 130 Liberty Street, must follow in the event of the discovery of potential human remains, artifacts, 9/11-related debris, personal property, and other sensitive materials.
These protocols were implemented in conjunction with the Office of Chief Medical Examiner (“OCME�) of the City of New York and Larry McKee, Ph.D., RPA, Senior Archaeologist from TRC, to ensure that all potential human remains are protected and provided to the OCME as well as to ensure that all potential artifacts, personal property, or 9/11-related debris are preserved and provided to the appropriate entities. All on-site personnel participating in the examination and work associated with ballast removal from the roof are required to review and follow these protocols. This procedure will also be followed in other areas, such as the cooling towers, where there is potential for finding human remains.
The majority of the current Bovis employees working on the roof assisted in the recovery effort at Ground Zero. Representatives from FDNY will be present for all roof cleaning activities to assist with locating Potential Human Remains (PHR), including two Battalion Chiefs and retired firemen who also assisted in the recovery effort at Ground Zero.
When any potential human remains are located in the course of this roof work, the Medical Legal Investigator (MLI) from the Office of Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) of the City of New York and/or Larry McKee, Ph.D., RPA, Senior Archaeologist from TRC, both of whom will be present on the rooftop during all examination activities, will be informed.
To further help you understand the process, the OCME has provided us with the following explanation:
The Medical Legal Investigator (MLI) is a highly trained professional who is certified and registered with State of New York as a physician’s assistant. As a member of the OCME, the MLI receives six months of training in on-scene investigation – including extensive training with a forensic anthropologist.
The identification of remains is a two-step process:
* The first step is a screening procedure meant to cast a wide net and capture all the material that might possibly resemble bone. A careful observer can make such a determination – and an individual with specific training like the MLI would be even more qualified to detect potential human remains.
* After possible remains are discovered, the second step in the process is the examination by an OCME forensic anthropologist of all materials collected. Again, from the onset, the goal is to cast the widest and most comprehensive net possible when searching for remains – increasing the likelihood of “false positives.” All materials are thoroughly examined and a determination made. [For example, 82 pieces of “bone” were collected the first weekend in April. Out of the 82, 8 of those samples were debris.] After a determination has been made that the material is indeed human remains, then every effort is made to extract DNA for possible future identification.
The process has been successful in identifying even the smallest remains – often a centimeter or less in size. The Chief Medical Examiner is confident that the process established with the LMDC and the addition of the MLI to the on-scene staff at the Deutsche Bank Building will ensure that remains will be identified and handled in a way that is respectful and sensitive to the needs of the families.
We hope that this helps clarify some of the outstanding questions that you may have. Please share this with the family members in your respective groups and email lists.
As always, feel free to ask questions by replying to this email. If you have any questions regarding the findings of potential human remains, please call the OCME’s WTC hotline at 212-447-7884 and someone can assist you.