What: The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a public health agency of U.S. Department Health and Human Services, today announced the availability of the final version of its public health assessment for the Joliet Army Ammunition Plant in Joliet, Illinois. ATSDR previously released this public health assessment as a draft for public comment. The final version addresses any comments which were received during the public comment period, and includes changes where appropriate.

The Joliet Army Ammunition Plant site is a former munitions production plant used to manufacture explosives during World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. The site was proposed for listing on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's National Priorities List because of contamination detected at the site. ATSDR prepared this public health assessment to evaluate potential health effects associated with exposure to contaminants in groundwater, surface water, soil, and crops and animals at the site. Based on a review of the available information, ATSDR found that the site poses no apparent public health hazard.

When: The draft public health assessment will be available for public review on or about October 12, 2001.

Where: Copies of the document are available at the following repositories:

Background: ATSDR is a public health agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. ATSDR's mission is to prevent exposure and adverse human health effects and diminished quality of life associated with exposure to hazardous substances from waste sites, unplanned releases, and other sources of pollution present in the environment.

Public health assessments report information about hazardous substances in the environment and evaluate whether exposure to those substances in the past, present or future could harm people in the area. They identify health studies or other activities that might be needed and make recommendations to other government agencies, such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state and local health and environmental departments, concerning actions to protect public health.

Comments received during the public comment period have been logged and are now part of the administrative record for the health assessment. Comments (without indication of who made them) and responses have been included in an appendix to the final health assessment.

For More Information: Community members seeking information on the procedures or content of the health assessment should contact Gary Campbell, toll free, at 1-888-42-ATSDR (1-888-422-8737). Callers should refer to the "Joliet Army Ammunition Plant site in Joliet, Illinois." ATSDR Regional Representative Clayton Koher also may be called for information at (312) 353-6086 in Chicago.