Federal health researchers will hold two meetings in Neihart on June 19 to provide information about their agency's research into possible health hazards associated with some 67 abandoned mines in the Monarch-Neihart area.
The officials say they also want to hear the public's health concerns related to the mines.
The researchers are from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a public health agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
The ATSDR is preparing a public health assessment for two sites in the area. The Barker-Hughesville Mining District Site includes approximately 46 abandoned mines near Monarch. The Carpenter and Snow Creek Mining Complex Site consists of 21 abandoned hardrock mines in the Neihart area.
The two sites were added to the National Priorities (Super Fund) List in September 2001. They comprise what ATSDR collectively refers to as the Barker-Hughesville and Carpenter Snow Creek Sites.
The ATSDR is inviting area residents to attend one of two public availability (open house) sessions to meet and talk with ATSDR staff. Both meetings will be held Wed., June 19, 2002, at the Belt Creek Ranger Station, 4234 Hwy. 89 N., Neihart. The meetings are noon-3 p.m. and 7-9 p.m.
Public availability sessions are not large-scale public meetings. Instead, members of the public are invited to drop in at any time during the session to talk one-on-one with ATSDR representatives about their health concerns related to the site or the agency's research. Although the session is open to the public, individual conversations with agency representatives are private.
Public health assessments from ATSDR report on hazardous substances in the environment and evaluate whether exposure to those substances in the past, present or future could harm people in the area. ATSDR makes recommendations to other government agencies, such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and state and local health and environmental departments, concerning actions to protect public health.
In preparing public health assessments, ATSDR health assessors rely on various sources of information. These sources may include environmental data, health data and reports of community concerns.
For more information, community members may contact ATSDR Environmental Health Scientists Teresa Foster or John Crellin, toll free, at 1-888-42-ATSDR (1-888-422-8737) or they may call ATSDR Regional Representative Dan Strausbaugh at 406-441-1120.
Additional information about ATSDR is available at the agency's Web site at http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov.