Resume Demolition At Building Where Two Firemen Died

By ARI PAUL

Demolition work has resumed at the Deutsche Bank Building, where two Firefighters were killed during a fire last August, raising questions about government oversight of the project.

DAVID NEWMAN: `Public oversight not there.^

The Department of Buildings lifted the stop-work order April 30 after contractors revamped a fire safety plan. The building had been heavily damaged and filled with toxic particles on 9/11, and various groups blasted the Buildings Department and Fire Department for failing to inspect the demolition project before last year's fire.

Some Key Changes

David Newman, an industrial hygienist for the New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health, had mixed emotions.

"I think there's agreement on how to address the broad issues," he said, citing a commitment to separate demolition from abatement and improved fire safety procedures. "Those things are very, very significant."

Mr. Newman was pleased to note that subcontractor John Galt, which his organization had said was an unqualified company for the project before it got under way, has been removed. But he added that the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, which is overseeing the demolition, has not engaged the community on the project.

"The public oversight process has collapsed," he said. "And that's being charitable. It's been killed by the LMDC."

Uniformed Fire Officers Association Vice President James McGowan faulted the Fire Department for not having a special pre-fire plan before the fatal blaze last year.

"The Fire Department has to be on top of this from day one," he said in regards to the resumption of work at the site. "Hopefully, this time around, they'll have an inspection plan and a pre-fire plan."