AGENCY TESTIMONY
Lead-based paint testing and abatement progress
1:10:05
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179 sec
NYCHA has made significant progress in lead-based paint testing and abatement across its properties. The agency has implemented new systems and procedures to ensure compliance with federal rules and protect residents, especially children.
- NYCHA developed a work order system that includes information on lead-based paint for each apartment
- The agency has tested over 100 surfaces in each apartment, starting with those where children reside
- NYCHA and its partners have delivered lead-free apartments in 100% of Williamsburg Houses and 87% of Harlem River Houses
- The TEMPO program has tested 86,000 apartments and abated 10,000 lead-free apartments in the public housing portfolio
Brad Greenburg
1:10:05
In order to comply with the agreement and improve performance, Nitro has redesigned its business process, so our staff use handheld devices on our work order system in each of the key areas of focus.
1:10:14
As you can see on the next slide on slide 4, This shows you kind of a portion of what we have built in our work order system so you can comply with federal rules around lead based pain.
1:10:24
Nitra now collects data every day, so we can be as protective as possible when it comes to lead based pain in Nitra Apartments where children live or visit.
1:10:32
Our workers' handheld devices, which you see screenshots of on the screen, include information on whether a child lives or visits the apartment where they are working, and it provides surface by surface testing results for that specific apartment.
1:10:44
We've also built our system to flag apartments where led safe work practices are mandatory, including apartments where a child lives.
1:10:50
If an apartment is flagged, our workers then see mandatory prompts before beginning work, so they adhere to led safe work practice requirements when they are disturbing lead based pain.
1:11:00
In this process, they can review and select the components they're working on that are positive for lead.
1:11:08
As you can see on the next slide, on Slide 5, the foundation of our work has been to test more than a 100 surfaces in each Nitra Apartment.
1:11:15
Beginning with apartments where children reside, so we know exactly which surfaces contain lead based paint.
1:11:21
This information is uploaded into our work order system and is a way that is easy to understand, so our staff always has access to this critical information.
1:11:29
Most importantly, as you can see on Slide 6, on the next slide, once we have that precise surface by surface testing, Nitra and its PAC partners can then abate and permanently remove lead based paint from the surface that tested positive at 0.5 milligrams per square centimeter, which is the stricter standard in the country.
1:11:47
Today, NightGen and its PAC partners have delivered lead free apartments across a 100% of the apartments at Williamsburg Houses, and more than 87% of the Apartments at Harlan River Houses.
1:11:57
These two properties were named in the original complaint filed against Nitra.
1:12:01
They were built in the 19 thirties and were the 2 properties with the most pervasive use of lead based paint.
1:12:07
Nitra's tempo program has also tested more than 86,000 apartments at the city's standard, and determined that 48,000 apartments are negative for lead based pain.
1:12:16
Recently, our tempo program hit an important milestone.
1:12:19
We've also now abated via removal and delivered 10,000 lead free apartments that previously tested positive in the public housing portfolio.
1:12:27
The work to fully abate and remove lead based paint from the nitrile portfolio, which is unquestionably the largest residential lead based paint abatement program ever undertaken is happening at a fast pace.
1:12:38
We are testing more than 700 apartments a week debating around 400 apartments a month in our public housing portfolio.
1:12:45
The pictures on Slide 7 on the next slide show what it takes to deliver a lead free apartment in some cases.
1:12:51
In these cases, we are removing paint down to the substrate then rebuilding the apartment or the component impacted.
1:12:59
This work is critical to ensure the safety of residents and is a core obligation of the agreement.
