Mission
The Bureau of Environmental Investigations performs complex environmental assessments and investigations which typically require advanced training and investigative experience. These complex investigations are primarily related to:
- • conducting health assessments during emergency response incidents
- • performing foodborne illness outbreak investigations
- • investigating toxic substance releases
- • inspecting in-place asbestos in areas accessible to the public
- • performing indoor air quality assessments
Bureau Functions
BEI responds to citizen' s complaints on a prioritized basis, and emergency incidents that may occur from time to time throughout the City. Complaints from citizens vary from alleged foodborne illness, fumes, odor of dry cleaning solvent, house paint, to automobile or boiler exhaust, pesticides or carbon monoxide, or asbestos.
Emergency incidents that may occur throughout the city may involve water and food contamination, sandblasting of lead-based paint from the City's infrastructures, chemical spills/releases, steam pipe explosions releasing asbestos in the air, or PCBs from transformer fires creating life threatening and disabling conditions for residents and the general public. During city-wide emergencies, BEI works in conjunction with other City, State and Federal agencies.
As first responder for the Department, BEI attempts to maintain an emergency response capability with personnel trained and available to provide necessary health-related assessments and recommendations during varied environmental emergencies throughout New York City. This response capability is coordinated with other city agencies so as to take full advantage and avoid duplication of resources available through other responding agencies including but not limited to the Hazardous Materials (Hazmat) Units of the New York City Fire Department (FD) and Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
The bureau is responsible for providing recommendations, assessments, and other orders during both emergency and follow up operations. BEI staff evaluate on-site conditions and provides interpretations of air and wipe sample results as well as recommendations to the Commissioner and/or the Deputy Commissioner of Health regarding evacuation, reoccupation, and decontamination procedures.
The Bureau is responsible for conducting foodborne illness investigations for the Department. This work includes identifying and interviewing all cases of illness, maintaining a database of alleged food related disease, conducting field and epidemiological investigations, educating the public and food service industry, implementing prevention activities, and when necessary to prevent further illness, taking enforcement actions.
For more information, call 311.
