The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (NHDHHS) announced today the availability of a draft version of the public health assessment for the former Pease Air Force Base in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. NHDHHS completed this draft public health assessment as part of its cooperative agreement with the U.S. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR).

Public health assessments report information about hazardous substances in the environment and evaluate whether exposure to those substances in the past, present, or future could harm people in the area. They identify health studies or other activities that might be needed and make recommendations to other government agencies concerning actions to protect public health.

NHDHHS and ATSDR released the draft public health assessment for Pease Air Force Base to give the public an opportunity to comment on the document before it is made final.

The draft public health assessment will be available for public review at the repository in the Air Force Base Conversion Agency offices, Building 151, Pease International Tradeport on or about August 2. Written comments will be accepted through September 10, 1999 at the following address:

Chief, Program Evaluation, Records, and Information Services Branch
Division of Health Assessment and Consultation
ATSDR, Mailstop E-56
1600 Clifton Road, NE
Atlanta, GA 30333

Comments received during the public comment period will be logged and become part of the administrative record for the public health assessment. Comments (without indication of who made them) and responses will be included in an appendix to the final document. Although names of those who have submitted comments will not be included in the final public health assessment, they will be subject to release under the Freedom of Information Act.

NHDHHS will hold a public meeting to discuss the findings of the draft public health assessment and to solicit comments and questions from the public. The meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, August 11, 1999 at 6:30 PM in the first floor conference room at the Pease Development Authority offices at 360 Corporate Drive, Pease International Tradeport.

Representatives from NHDHHS and ATSDR will be present at the meeting to answer questions from the public. Extra copies of the draft public health assessment and other informational materials will also be available.

For more information on the draft public health assessment for Pease Air Force Base, please call Dennis Pinski of the NHDHHS Bureau of Health Risk Assessment at (603) 271-4664, or toll-free in NH at (800) 852-3345 extension 4664.