What: The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a public health agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, today released its draft public health assessment for Willow Grove site in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania.

According to the health assessment, ATSDR found no contaminants at a level of health concern at the site. In the report ATSDR did, however, recommend that the agency be consulted if future monitoring or site investigations identify pathways of contaminant exposure that may result in adverse health effects.

When: The public comment period for the draft health assessment is March 6 to April 8, 2002.

Where: Community members who wish to review the draft public health assessment for the Willow Grove site will find the document on or about March 6, 2002, at the following repositories:

Horsham Township Building On-base Air Force repository
1025 Horsham Road 2164 McGuire St.
Horsham, PA Willow Grove, PA

On-base Navy repository

Willow Grove Naval Air Station
Bldg. 78, Environmental Department
Rt. 611
Willow Grove, PA

Written comments about the document should be mailed to:

Chief, Program Evaluation, Records and Information Services Branch
ATSDR, 1600 Clifton Road, NE, Mailstop E-56
Atlanta, GA 30333.

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

Background: ATSDR is a public health agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. ATSDR's mission is to prevent exposure and adverse human health effects and diminished quality of life associated with exposure to hazardous substances from waste sites, unplanned releases, and other sources of pollution present in the environment.

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. Environmental data detail the chemicals at a site and indicate their potential pathways to reach humans. Health data can include reports of injury, disease, or death in the community, as well as information on the known health effects of chemicals at the site. Reports of community concerns document the public's descriptions of how the site affects their health and quality of life.

For More Information: Community members who would like more information on the procedures or content of the document, should contact Jeff Kellam, environmental health scientist, toll free at 1-888-42-ATSDR (1-888-422-8737). Callers should refer to the "Willow Grove site in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania." ATSDR Regional Representative Tom Stukas also may be called for information at (215) 814-3142 in Philadelphia.

Members of the news media are requested to make an appointment to interview ATSDR staff. Phone Mike Groutt or John Florence, in the ATSDR Office of Policy and External Affairs, at (404) 498-0070.