NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Emergency Management (NYCEM) Commissioner Zachary Iscol announced that initial air quality tests have come back negative for asbestos after a steam line release in Midtown East on Wednesday morning caused street closures and a shelter-in-place for residents.
At the press conference late Wednesday afternoon, Adams confirmed that before 6 a.m. this morning a steam pipe owned by Con Edison at East 52nd Street and Second Avenue began releasing steam, that was potentially contaminated with asbestos, into the air.
"I know many residents in this area are anxious, you know, anyone could be expected to be anxious seeing all this activity that's taking place, but the first responders and our team and our other agencies responded appropriately and accordingly and in a timely manner to get this under control," Adams said, citing the response of the FDNY, NYPD, NYCEM, DEP and other agencies to the site early Wednesday morning.
A zone was being established by an interagency team at East 52nd Street and Second Avenue.Kristie Keleshian
Hugh Grant, Vice President of Steam Operations for Con Edison, clarified the particulars of the steam release, which was previously reported as a rupture.
Video appears to show a utility truck being engulfed in steam.Citizen App
"Initially we had a call in regards to a vapor condition under location, while we responded and were on site that condition worsened, and ended up with a release of steam. It's not a rupture, it's a release of steam on one of the alternate pipes on the steam system," Grant said.
Adams and Grant said that the investigation into the cause of the leak is ongoing, and hizzoner said that there will be a public announcement once a cause is determined.
"The initial testing did not show elevated levels of asbestos, and out of an abundance of caution our Emergency Management team has been providing N95 masks to residents in the area," Adams added.
Adams and officials encouraged all New Yorkers in the area to keep windows closed, wear masks and minimize pedestrian traffic as officials work on cleanup.
Iscol said that the response is moving into the next phase of operations following the negative asbestos tests, with cleanup operations led by Con Edison and their contracting crews beginning on Third Avenue.
"We expect these operations to take at least a few days, possibly more, just because it is a big area. But as we go through, as we see what the results of the rain are tonight, we'll continue to assess how much more work there is to be done," Iscol said.
NYPD Chief of Transportation Philip Rivera posted on X a map of the street closures in Midtown East as cleanup operations continue.
Current street closures as cleanup operations begin in Midtown East following Wednesday's steam pipe release.NYPD Transit Chief Philip Rivera
In the post, Rivera wrote "🚨LATEST🚨The following street closures are highlighted on the map. Please avoid the area. Expect delays so plan accordingly and utilize alternate routes."
Iscol confirmed at the press conference regarding the steam release that all residents are able to reach their homes.
