The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a public health agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, today announced it is issuing the final version of its public health consultation on the Speedway #8366 and Jack's Service Center gas stations in the Mapp Road area of Palm City, Martin County, Fla. The federal agency classifies the site as an indeterminate public health hazard.

In the document, ATSDR notes the reason for the indeterminate classification. Although contamination has been detected in area groundwater, not all the potential residential wells that might be affected by the groundwater plumes have been identified. For past exposures, the Speedway and Jack's site may have posed a public health hazard for exposures to benzene, which was detected in one well on a residential site; the residence was later demolished.

In looking at groundwater, soil and surface water as possible sources of exposure, ATSDR concludes the following:

• Groundwater: The sources of contamination at both Speedway and Jack's have been or soon will be remediated. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) and the Martin County Health Department (MCDH) continue to monitor the private wells and will provide a connection to the county public water system or a filter if any state water quality limits are exceeded.

• Soil: No health hazards are associated with surface soil at either facility. An additional factor is that the ground surface at both sites is paved.

• Surface water: Contamination from Jack's or Speedway has not migrated far enough to affect the Saint Lucie River, which is one-half mile away. Future contamination of the river is unlikely because remediation at Speedway has lowered the level of contaminants to below detection limits and a similar plan is being implemented at Jack's.

ATSDR recommends the following actions:

• Continue the county implementation of the Florida Department of Health Well Surveillance Program to identify other private wells potentially affected by groundwater contamination.
• Conduct health education to inform the community of MCDH activities and the county well surveillance program.
• Continue FDEP efforts to supply water filtration systems and connections to the county public water supply when groundwater contamination exceeds water quality limits in private wells.
• Implement a groundwater remediation plan at Jack's Service Center.

Community members seeking information on the procedures or the content of the public health consultation may contact Tammie McRae toll free at 1-888-422-8737. Regional Representative Bob Safay also may be contacted at 404-562-1782. Callers should refer to the Speedway and Jack's Service Center site in Palm City, Fla.