The Freedom Tower

The owners of the World Trade Center construction property say they will miss a January 1 deadline to finish excavating for WTC Towers 3 and 4. The missed deadline could mean the PA will owe developer Larry Silverstein more than $12 million in delay penalties.
In a statement, the PA said: “The Port Authority announced today that it has substantially completed the excavation of the basement area for Towers 3 and 4 at the World Trade Center site, and that it would complete the entirety of the excavation of Tower 4 by mid-January, and Tower 3 two to four weeks later. In keeping with this timetable, Silverstein Properties will advance procurement and other preconstruction activities in preparation for full-scale construction.

The construction of the Towers, including below- and above-grade retail and subterranean transit concourses, is expected to be completed by Silverstein Properties in 2011.

The unprecedented 12-month excavation and construction project - which involved the removal of nearly 300,000 tons, or enough concrete, soil and rock to fill Giants Stadium - will be completed within weeks of its original schedule established in an agreement with Silverstein Properties in mid-2006. Fifty miles of trucks was required to remove the material from the “bathtub” in recent months. In addition to clearing the site, the work involved the intricate installation of approximately 400 tiebacks, which if placed end-to-end would stretch down Interstate 95 from Manhattan to Philadelphia, and the pouring of enough concrete to pave a sidewalk from Wall Street to Rockland County, N.Y.

As a whole, the project is more than 90 percent complete. The excavation for the bathtub for Towers 3 and 4 must be dug to elevation 240. To date, 80 percent of the site for Tower 4 has reached elevation 240, and the remaining portion ranges from between elevations 241 and 248. The site for Tower 3 has been excavated to as low as elevation 264.

Under a master redevelopment agreement approved by the Port Authority Board of Commissioners in September 2006, the bistate agency agreed to take over development of 1 World Trade Center, the Freedom Tower and the Tower 5 site. Silverstein Properties is responsible for construction of Towers 2, 3 and 4.

The Port Authority’s agreement with Silverstein Properties calls for it to make payments of approximately $300,000 per day if any section of the excavation is not completed by January 1.

The Port Authority expects these costs will be largely offset by reduced payments to its contractors, and Silverstein Properties will reinvest these payments in the ongoing $16 billion of construction throughout the site.

The Port Authority is on schedule to complete the below-ground excavation for the Tower 2 site by the end of June 2008. Currently, nearly every section of the 16-acre World Trade Center site is under construction. There are currently more than 700 construction workers and 100 pieces of heavy equipment on the site.”

The National Institute of Standards and Technology conducted its own investigation of the collapse of the World Trade Center and has posted answers to frequently asked questions about the disaster. Here is a short excerpt.

Was there enough gravitational energy present in the World Trade Center Towers to cause the collapse of the intact floors below the impact floors?  Why was the collapse of WTC 1 and 2 not arrested by the intact structure below the floors where columns first began to buckle?

Yes, there was more than enough gravitational load to cause the collapse of the floors below the level of collapse initiation in both WTC Towers.  The vertical capacity of the connections supporting an intact floor below the level of collapse was adequate to carry the load of 11 additional floors if the load was applied gradually and 6 additional floors if the load was applied suddenly (as was the case).  Since the number of floors above the approximate floor of collapse initiation exceeded six in each WTC Tower (12 and 29 floors, respectively), the floors below the level of collapse initiation were unable to resist the suddenly applied gravitational load from the upper floors of the buildings.  Details of this finding are provided below:

Consider a typical floor immediately below the level of collapse initiation and conservatively assume that the floor is still supported on all columns (i.e., the columns below the intact floor did not buckle or peel-off due to the failure of the columns above).  Consider further the truss seat connections between the primary floor trusses and the exterior wall columns or core columns.  The individual connection capacities ranged from 94,000 lb to 395,000 lb, with a total vertical load capacity for the connections on a typical floor of 29,000,000 lb .
The total floor area outside the core was approximately 31,000 ft2, and the average load on a floor under service conditions on September 11, 2001 was 80 lb/ft2.   Thus, the total vertical load on a floor outside the core can be estimated by multiplying the floor area (31,000 ft2) by the gravitational load (80 lb/ft2), which yields 2,500,000 lb (this is a conservative load estimate since it ignores the weight contribution of the heavier mechanical floors at the top of each WTC Tower).  By dividing the total vertical connection capacity (29,000,000 lb) of a floor by the total vertical load applied to the connections (2,500,000 lb), the number of floors that can be supported by an intact floor is calculated to be a total of 12 floors or 11 additional floors.

This simplified and conservative analysis indicates that the floor connections could have carried only a maximum of about 11 additional floors if the load from these floors were applied statically.  Even this number is (conservatively) high, since the load from above the collapsing floor is being applied suddenly.  Since the dynamic amplification factor for a suddenly applied load is 2, an intact floor below the level of collapse initiation could not have supported more than six floors.  Since the number of floors above the level where the collapse initiated, exceeded 6 for both towers (12 for WTC 1 and 29 for WTC 2), neither tower could have arrested the progression of collapse once collapse initiated.  In reality, the highest intact floor was about three (WTC 2) to six (WTC 1) floors below the level of collapse initiation.  Thus, more than the 12 to 29 floors reported above actually loaded the intact floor suddenly.

2.  Were the basic principles of conservation of momentum and energy satisfied in NIST’s analysis of the structural response of the towers to the aircraft impact and the fires?

Yes.  The basic principles of conservation of momentum and conservation of energy were satisfied in these analyses.

In the case of the aircraft impact analyses, which involved a moving aircraft (velocity) and an initially stationary building, the analysis did, indeed, account for conservation of momentum and energy (kinetic energy, strain energy).

After each tower had finished oscillating from the aircraft impact, the subsequent degradation of the structure involved only minute (essentially zero) velocities.  Thus, a static analysis of the structural response and collapse initiation was appropriate.  Since the velocities were zero and since momentum is equal to mass times velocity, the momentum terms also equaled zero and therefore dropped out of the governing equations.  The analyses accounted for conservation of energy.

3.  How does NIST explain the absence of a timeline for the WTC Towers?

NIST developed and reported detailed timelines for various aspects of the WTC disaster beginning with the impact of the aircraft.  These timelines included the progression of fires through the buildings, the response of the structure to damage and to fire, egress of occupants from the towers, and the emergency response.  The timelines were developed based on extensive analysis of the photographic and video evidence, analysis of computer models, first person interviews, radio transmissions, and other data documenting the events of September 11, 2001.
4.  Why was physical evidence not collected immediately following the collapse of the WTC Towers?

The complete collapse of the WTC Towers destroyed virtually all physical evidence except the major pieces of steel and mechanical equipment.  In the initial days and weeks following the WTC disaster, the emphasis was on rescue and later on recovery, necessitating the removal of steel and disturbing the collapse site.  FEMA, which had launched its Building Performance Study in early October 2001, sent a team of experts to review the steel at the WTC site and the salvage yards.  These experts, including one from NIST, identified pieces of steel of potential interest to a follow-on investigation.  Beginning in February 2002, NIST, on its own initiative, began identifying additional steel pieces of potential interest at the salvage yards and transporting them to NIST to preserve and secure the evidence in anticipation of launching its own investigation, which it did in August 2002.  NIST did not receive the legal authority to collect and preserve physical evidence from a disaster/failure site until the National Construction Safety Team Act became law in October 2002.

A full report can be found at www. wtc.nist.gov/pubs/factsheets/faqs_12_2007.htm

This in from bagnewsnotes.typepad.com:
Looking to remain relevant, it is no surprise to see Rudy playing the 9/11 card in his latest ad.
Emphasizing pride and bravado over the fear driving Bush’s kick-off ad of the 2004 reelection,“Safer/Stronger,” both use montage tying together the flag, patriotism, the American military, the rubble of ground zero and the threat of “them over there.”
Less notable in Rudy’s piece, however, is the same element that drew howls over Huckabee’s recent Christmas greeting.
Overlaying horizontal and vertical elements against a black background in a “domino-like” effect, the Giuliani video also conjures a Christian cross as a repeated subliminal element. In this particular screen grab, notice how the cross ties together a child pledging allegiance with a U.S. soldier standing at attention, supposedly in Iraq. In this instance, the allusion goes beyond religiosity to also encompass a memorial theme, playing exploiting the sacrifice paid in human lives.

For Links, go to:
Giuliani “Freedom” ad
Bush “Safer, Stronger” ad (Living Room Candidate)
Mike Huckabee Christmas (You Tube)

A plan the would have allowed greater access to health care for those suffering from World Trade Center Illness was stopped by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), according to Paul Napoli, an attorney familiar with the problem.
The proposed program would have reimbursed doctors for treating patients that live outside of the New York City area. Many rescuers traveled from across the country and are now feeling the effects of the toxic fumes and materials that filled the air following September 11th.

The contract had aimed to organize and improve various Sept. 11 health programs and provide pharmacy benefits. Health officials feared the work could cost up to $165 million, far more than the $52 million Congress had provided.

“Obviously, we had a big gap that made the contract unreasonable,” Alan Kotch, the CDC’s director of procurement and grants, told The Associated Press. He said federal officials would go back to the drawing board to make sure they get “the best possible product” that is realistic.

Delegates from New York to Congress have been working on securing funding and creating a plan to help this portion of those affected by World Trade Center Illness. The called the decision to halt the project unfair to those that do not live near New York City.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said December 3 they will investigate why a $1 billion 9/11 insurance fund, the WTC Captive Insurance Co., created by Congress to cover claims of sick Ground Zero workers, is fighting the cases in court rather than distributing money. Roughly 8,000 claims await judgment in the federal court system. The DHS inspector general’s review also will determine “what procedures have been established to receive, review and pay medical, hospital, surgical and disability benefits to injured persons,” as well as benefits to the victims’ relatives.

Read the December 3 article:
www.examiner.com/a-1083784~Feds_Probe_Sept__11_Insurance_Fund.html

This photo was posted on www.mixx.com with the simple headline: Top of the World: Working at top of the World Trade Center. What was more interesting, however, was the next line: The only person higher up was the photographer.

For a closer look, go to: http://cdn-73.liveleak.com/liveleak/14/media14/…

The last church mass was held last night at Ground Zero, giving police, firefighters, Ground Zero workers, and families of the victims a final chance for a Christmas Eve prayer at the site, where increasing construction is taking up more space, The Canadian Press reported.
The news agency said the first midnight mass at the site of the destroyed World Trade Center was held while workers were still clearing away the debris and recovering bodies from the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack.
“We’re trying to bring closure tonight for the last six years,” said Rev. Brian Jordan, a chaplain who spent 10 months at Ground Zero after the attacks and has presided over every midnight mass there since.
“It’s time to move on. It’s time for us to rebuild, not just for the site, but also to rebuild our spiritual lives.”
More than 150 people attended the first mass in 2001, while thousands of workers were still removing the towers’ debris and searching for bodies. “One hour before, we found the body of a fireman,” Jordan said.
Since then, families of victims have come to the site every year and said a prayer for their loved ones. Several police commanders and firefighters have never missed a year. Jordan said he expected about 75 people to attend Monday’s mass.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which owns the site, has moved the service from one part of the site to another, depending on construction activities. Officials hope to open five office towers, a transit hub and a Sept. 11 memorial there in the next five years.

A Star is born. Merry Christmas to all, and to all, a good night.

One of the joys of Christmas past was a Christmas Eve Mass somewhere in the city, The Tree at Rockefeller Center and the view of our city from the top of the World Trade Center observation deck.
NYCtourist.com reminded us of this loss just two days after 9/11 by saying one of these views had been preserved online. “We want to let people around the country and around the world see what it was or remember their visit here. If you have children, take this photo tour with them so that they can see a World Trade Center as it was and what it can be in the future. God bless, wrote Derek Hyde on 9/13.

The New York City Health Department encouraged adult enrollees in the World Trade Center Health Registry who have not yet completed their follow-up surveys to do so by the December 31 deadline. While the overall response rate to the follow-up survey is approaching 70% with more than 45,000 surveys completed, response rates among residents, particularly Spanish- and Chinese-speaking residents, have been below 50%.

The Health Department’s follow-up survey is the best way to learn more about people’s status six years after they were exposed to the World Trade Center disaster. By comparing the second survey to the first one, which ended in 2004, researchers will answer important questions about the persistence of physical and mental health symptoms and determine whether any new health problems have emerged among the registrants.

“With a higher response rate, the Registry will be able to better assess the health impact of 9/11 and its aftermath, and help the federal government and New York City assist people directly affected by 9/11,” said Lorna Thorpe, Deputy Commissioner for Epidemiology .

“The whole community will benefit if residents answer the second survey,” said Kimberly Flynn of 9/11 Environmental Action. “That’s why so many community-based organizations joined in this intensive outreach effort.” These organizations include South Bridge Towers Parents and Youth Association, South Bridge Towers Chinese Residents Association, South Bridge Towers Senior Center, Alfred E. Smith Houses Tenants Association, Independence Plaza North Tenants Association, and Knickerbocker Village Tenants Association.

As part of a concerted outreach effort during the final weeks of the survey, the Health Department has placed follow-up survey advertisements in community and ethnic newspapers, including the Downtown Express, Sing Tao, Ming Pao, Epoch Times, China News World Journal, El Diario and Hoy. In addition, with the help of community groups and neighborhood tenant associations in Lower Manhattan, it has papered residential buildings with fliers emphasizing the importance of the follow-up survey and upcoming deadline.

Enrollees who wish to complete the survey should call 1-866-692-9827 or e-mail wtchr@health.nyc.gov. Parents and guardians of children have until March 31, 2008 to complete a separate survey.

About the Survey

Beginning in November 2006, all enrollees received paper copies of the follow-up survey several times. English-speaking enrollees who provided an e-mail address also got e-mail reminders, urging them to complete the survey online. In September 2007, the Health Department made it possible to complete the survey by telephone. This option was chosen by more than 5,000 enrollees, including Spanish and Chinese speakers who received a special mailing informing them of this option.

- The follow-up survey takes about 30 minutes to complete and is available in English, Spanish and Chinese. Other languages are available through an interpretation hotline.

- The new survey includes many of the same health questions as the initial interview. It also has new follow-up questions for specific groups in the Registry.

- Enrollees’ responses are protected by a Federal Certificate of Confidentiality. All information given is kept strictly private and confidential.

- Enrollees are urged to keep their contact information updated so they can receive information about the Registry.

The Registry monitors the symptoms and health conditions of many different groups affected by the 9/11 attacks, including residents, rescue and recovery workers, office workers, people on the streets nearby, and students and teachers in the area. The results help health experts recognize and treat health problems potentially associated with exposure to the 9/11 attacks. For example, in August 2006, the Health Department released clinical guidelines for NYC physicians that outlined the best treatment for respiratory and mental health conditions that are common in people exposed to the attacks (see here).

Additional information about World Trade Center Health Registry and New York City’s commitment to 9/11 health can be found here.

http://www.nyc.gov