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 that it will hold a public availability session on March 20 in Louisville, Miss., to discuss community health concerns related to American Creosote Works Inc.

The purpose of the public availability sessions is for ATSDR to hear residents' health concerns about the Louisville-based American Creosote Works Inc. site, which formerly was a timber-processing and wood-preserving facility. The sessions will be held from
2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 20, at the Louisville City Hall, located on South Church Avenue in Louisville.

Community members are encouraged to attend and meet one-on-one with ATSDR staff to discuss health concerns related to the site. No appointments are necessary, and health concerns will be kept confidential.

Community members seeking information on public availability session procedures may contact Health Communications Specialist Youlanda Outin, toll free, at 1-888-422-8737, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Regional Representative Benjamin Moore also may be contacted at 1-800-241-8754, ext. 21784. Callers should refer to the American Creosote Works site in Louisville, Miss.

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