The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a public health agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) today are releasing a public health assessment (PHA) for the former Taylor Lumber and Treating facility site in Sheridan, Ore.

On the basis of the environmental sampling conducted at the site, ODHS and ATSDR consider this site to pose no apparent public health hazard. The public comment period extends through July 17, 2003.

PHAs are conducted on National Priorities List (NPL) or Superfund sites as mandated by Congress. The Taylor Lumber and Treating (TLT) site was listed on the NPL on June 14, 2001. For this PHA, ODHS reviewed available environmental data and community health concerns to determine whether adverse health effects are possible. The PHA also recommends actions to prevent, reduce or further identify the possibility for site-related adverse health effects. ATSDR concurs with the state's findings.

ODHS and ATSDR conclude the following:

• The Taylor Lumber and Treating facility presents no apparent public health hazard.
• The concerns of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde regarding elevated cancer rates and the potential for tribal members living in Sheridan to be exposed to TLT contaminants in the municipal drinking water should be addressed. However, these concerns probably are not related to exposure to the TLT site.
• Access to the TLT site should be restricted, especially to the soil storage area and to the ditch along Rock Creek Road. Additionally, physical hazards (as included in the recommendations below) on the site and off the site should be addressed.

ATSDR and ODHS recommend the following:

• The fence along Rock Creek Road should be extended to include the ditch sediment, or the ditch sediment should be removed and replaced with clean fill. Although contaminants were not detected at levels expected to result in adverse health effects, simple removal or restriction measures would reduce exposure.
• An investigation independent of the Taylor Lumber Superfund site investigation should be conducted to address the concerns of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde about elevated cancer rates.
• The contaminated soil storage area should be enclosed completely by a security fence with posted warning signs. In addition, the soil should be adequately covered to minimize the migration of off-site particulates and, ultimately, disposed of properly.

The PHA will be available for public review at the following repositories in Oregon:

Comments on the public health assessment must be in writing. Mail comments to

Chief, Program Evaluation, Records and Information Services Branch
ATSDR
1600 Clifton Rd., NE (MS E-60)
Atlanta, GA 30333

Comments received during the public comment period, without the submitters' names, 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 for requests made under the U.S. Freedom of Information Act.

Community members seeking information on the procedures or the content of the public health assessment may contact ATSDR Environmental Health Scientist John Crellin, toll free, at 1-888-422-8737 or ATSDR Regional Representative Ric Robinson at 206-553-5114. When calling, please refer to the Taylor Lumber and Treating site in Sheridan, Ore. Other contacts for information include ODHS Public Health Toxicologist Dave Stone at 503-731-4012 or ODHS Public Health Educator Amanda Guay at 503-731-4025.

Members of the news media may request an interview with ATSDR staff by calling Elaine McEachern in the ATSDR Office of Policy and External Affairs at 404-498-0070.