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US Army Corps of Engineers
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Staten Island Landfill, New York |
On September 11, 2001, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers mobilized in response to the terrorist attacks on the Pentagon and World Trade Centers. After the initial crisis was over, the Corps remained involved in the long recovery process in New York City. At the request of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Corps assumed management of the Staten Island Landfill, where the debris from the collapsed buildings were taken to be examined for victims' remains and personal effects, as well as criminal evidence, then sorted, recycled, or disposed. The Corps managed a host of contractors and cooperated with dozens of city, state, and federal agencies to accomplish these tasks. Images from these efforts are shown below:
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Although the Corps of Engineers was the overall manager of the World Trade Center Debris Recovery Project, it ultimately was a New York City crime scene. This sign was posted at the Staten Island Landfill. |
Corps of Engineers Project Manager David Leach, of the New York District, explains to Ted Monette, FEMA federal coordinating officer, the processes for handling debris removed from the World Trade Centers at the Staten Island Landfill. (Shown lower right is a cable drum from one of the buildings' elevators.) |
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This is an overview of the main debris examination area. The debris taken to the Staten Island Landfill were inspected three times. After the large pieces of metal and rubble were removed, the smaller items were separated by size and placed on conveyor belts where they were inspected by law enforcement officials. Evidence and personal effects were recovered throughout the debris inspection process. The Corps of Engineers and its debris management contractor, Phillips and Jordan, were responsible for mechanizing this debris inspection. The automated process was much faster than the earlier method of inspecting debris by using rakes and shovels. |
The heart of the Staten Island World Trade Center recovery project is pictured here, where the debris were examined by New York, Port Authority of New York, and New Jersey police officers. The piles of material in front of the conveyors were debris that were processed and later picked up by front-end loaders to be buried in the landfill. Behind the shelters are mounds of rubble waiting to be sorted.
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Barges belonging to the New York City Department of Sanitation were used to transport World Trade Center rubble from Lower Manhattan to the Staten Island Landfill. They also were used to carry away material destined for recycling after it was inspected. This barge was filled with scrap metal that were once New York City Fire Department vehicles. The vehicles were examined, decontaminated, shredded, and loaded into barges for transport to a recycling center in New Jersey. |
Many people found the images of charred and crushed New York Police and Fire Department vehicles to be very moving. The vehicles were taken from the World Trade Center site to the Staten Island Landfill for examination and processing. This truck was one of only two remaining in early June 2002. Shortly thereafter it was removed for preservation at a local New York museum. |
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Law enforcement officials at work examining the rubble from the World Trade Centers. Worker protection and safety procedures were strictly enforced, as shown by the personal protective equipment worn by these workers. |
Sifted debris is shown exiting the conveyor system. This material was examined and found to be free of evidence, personal effects, or anything relevant to the attacks, and will be buried in the landfill. |
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This empty New York Department of Sanitation barge was used to transport World Trade Center rubble. Extraordinary measures were taken to ensure that every piece of World Trade Center debris were painstakingly examined, including vacuuming each transport barge. |
The Staten Island World Trade Center Recovery Project was a coordinated effort of many local, state, and federal agencies, as well as civic and volunteer organizations, all working under Corps management. This banner, produced by the Corps and main contractor, Phillips and Jordan, sums up the feelings of those involved in the work. It was displayed in the "Hilltop Cafe´," a cafeteria run by the Salvation Army to feed those who worked on "the Hill." |
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