The health status of Ottawa County residents is similar to other Oklahoma residents says a public health assessment released today by the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) and the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH).

For the report, entitled “Occurrence of Selected Health Conditions in Ottawa County, Oklahoma,” ATSDR and OSDH reviewed health information from several databases compiled between 1994 and 2005. The databases included Oklahoma’s cancer and birth defects registry, special education and newborn screening programs, death certificates, and a telephone survey of health conditions in adults.

ATSDR and OSDH will host a public availability session at the Miami Civic Center Tuesday November 28, 2006 from 7:00 pm to 9:00pm, and repeat the session Wednesday November 29, 2006 from 10:00 am to noon. The Civic Center is located at 129 5th Street NW in Miami, Okla.

ATSDR will begin each public availability session by presenting its plan for the Tar Creek Superfund Site. The plan covers nine community health concerns, such as, consumption of fish and native foods, child health and air quality issues, and contact with sediment at Riverview Park in Miami.

After the presentation, representatives from ATSDR, OSDH and other groups will be available to meet one-on-one with community members to provide information and to hear their comments and health concerns regarding health activities at Tar Creek Superfund site. Representatives include Ottawa County Health Department, Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality and fish studies, Local Environmental Action Demanded (LEAD) Agency, and Wyandotte Nation.

The public health assessment and ATSDR’s Plan for Tar Creek are available for public review and comment. The public comment period runs through January 29, 2007. The public health assessment and ATSDR’s Plan for Tar Creek are available online at: www.atsdr.cdc.gov/sites/tarcreek, and at:

Miami Public Library
200 North Main St.
Miami, OK 74354

Comments on the public health assessment and ATSDR’s Plan for Tar Creek must be made in writing. Mail comments to:

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
ATTN: ATSDR Records Room
1600 Clifton Road, N.E. (MS E-60)
Atlanta, GA 30333

Comments received during the public comment period will be logged in to ATSDR’s administrative record for the Tar Creek Superfund Site. Comments received, without the names of individuals who submitted them, and ATSDR’s responses to the comments will appear in an appendix to the final public health assessment. Names of those who submit comments, however, will be subject to release to requests made under the U.S. Freedom of Information Act.

For more information on the November 28 and 29 public availability sessions community members can contact Health Communication Specialist La Freta Dalton at 404-498-1743 or LDalton@cdc.gov, or ATSDR Regional Representative Jennifer Lyke at 214-665-8362 or JLyke@cdc.gov.