What: The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a public health agency of the U.S. Department Health and Human Services, announced today the availability of the draft public health assessment for the Ketchikan Pulp Company (KPC), Ketchikan, Alaska, for public review and comment.
Scientists from ATSDR reviewed available air, drinking water, soil and biological data collected and provided by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) and the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, as well as the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (ADHSS).
Based on the data reviewed, ATSDR researchers did not identify any current or future public health hazards to residents living near the Ketchikan Pulp Company. Past exposures may have contributed to adverse health effects in area residents, but limited historical data prevented ATSDR from associating past facility emissions to increases of disease in community members.
Why: ATSDR prepared the public health assessment in response to a petition from community members concerned that emissions from KPC may be adversely effecting the health of people living in the Ketchikan Gateway Borough.
When: The public comment period for the health assessment will run from November 15, 2001, to December 31, 2001.
Where: The health assessment will be available for public review and comment on or about November 15, 2001, at the following repositories:
Ketchikan Public Library
629 Dock Street
Ketchikan, AK 99901
Phone: (907) 225-3331
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Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation
540 Water Street, Suite 203
Ketchikan, AK 99901
Phone: (907) 225-6200
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Alaska Department of Environmental
410 Willoughby Avenue, Suite 105
Juneau, AK 99801-1765
Phone: (907) 465-5202
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Alaska Department of Health Conservation and Social Services
Division of Public Health
3601 C Street, Suite 450
Anchorage, AK 99524
Phone: (907) 269-8086
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Written comments should be sent to:
Chief, Program Evaluation, Records and Information Services Branch
ATSDR
1600 Clifton Road, NE, Mailstop E-56
Atlanta, Georgia 30333
Comments received during the public comment period will be logged and become part of the administrative record for the health assessment. Comments (without indication of who made them) and responses will be included in an appendix to the final document. Although names of those who have submitted comments will not be included in the final health assessment, they are subject to release under the Freedom of Information Act.
Background: 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 EPA and state and local health and environmental departments, concerning actions to protect public health.
For More Information: Community members seeking information on the procedures or the content of this public health assessment should contact ATSDR Health Assessor Frank Schnell, toll free, at 1-888-42-ATSDR (1-888-422-8737). Callers should refer to the "Ketchikan Pulp Company" when asking to speak with a health assessor in the Division of Health Assessment and Consultation. ATSDR Regional Representatives Richard Kauffman or Karen Larson also may be called for information at (206) 553-1049 in Seattle, Washington.