The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a public health agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, announced today the availability of the public comment version of its public health assessment for the Cripple Creek and Victor Gold Mine site in Victor, Colorado.

ATSDR prepared the public health assessment in response to a petition which was received from a local citizen's group. The group asked ATSDR to evaluate the potential public health impact of possible contaminants released from the Cripple Creek and Victor Gold Mine during mining activities. ATSDR reviewed available environmental and health outcome data and community health concerns to determine whether adverse health effects are possible from exposure to contaminants from the site.

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 also identify other activities that might be needed to better understand the health effects associated with the site. Public health assessments also make recommendations to other government agencies, such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) 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. 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.

The health assessment will be available for public review and comment on or about June 28, 2000, at the following repositories:

Victor Public Library
124 South 3rd Street
Victor, Colorado 80860
Contact: Belinda Brown, (719) 689-2011

Franklin Ferguson Memorial Library
410 North B Street
Cripple Creek, Colorado 80813
Contact: Mike McDonald, Library Director, (719) 689-2800

The public comment period for the health assessment will run from June 28 through August 15, 2000.

Please send written comments to:

Chief, Program Evaluation, Records and Information Services Branch
ATSDR
1600 Clifton Road, NE, Mailstop E-56
Atlanta, Georgia 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 document. Although names of those who have submitted comments will not be included in the final health assessment, they will be subject to release under the Freedom of Information Act.

Community members seeking information on the procedures or the content of this public health assessment should contact ATSDR Health Assessor Kim Chapman, toll free, at 1-888-42-ATSDR (1-888-422-8737). Callers should refer to the "Cripple Creek and Victor Gold Mine site" when asking to speak with a Health Assessor in the Division of Health Assessment and Consultation. The ATSDR Regional Representative, Glen Tucker, also may be called for information at (303) 312-7010 in Denver.

PRESS RELEASE

PURPOSE: Petitioned Public Health Assessment Cripple Creek and Victor Gold Mine Victor, Teller County, Colorado

COST RECOVER No.: A509

ARRIVAL DATE REPOSITORY: June 28, 2000 - August 15, 2000 (for public comment period)

PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD: 45 days

HEALTH ASSESSOR: Kim Chapman 404/639-0604

REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE: Region 8, Glenn Tucker 303/312-7011

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT REPRESENTATIVE: La Freta Dalton 1-888-422-8737 or 404/639-6027

REPOSITORIES:

Victor Public Library
124 South 3rd Street
Victor, Colorado 80860
Phone (719) 689--2011
Contact: Belinda Brown

Franklin Ferguson Memorial Library
410 North B Street
Cripple Creek, Colorado 80813
(719) 689-2800
Contact: Mike McDonald, Library Director

MEETING PLACE: N/A

NEWSPAPERS:

The Victor Spirit (Bi-weekly publication)
P.O. Box 45
Victor, CO 80860
Telephone no. - 719/689-5700
Contact: Joe Stevens

The Gazette Telegraph (daily)
Victor, CO
719/632-5511

The Mountain Jackspot (weekly)
Victor, CO
719/687-0803

The Ute Pass Courier (weekly)
Victor, CO
719/687-3006

Eagle Newspaper
P.O.Box 963
Cripple Creek, CO 80813
Telephone no. - 719/689-2269

Gold Camp Journal
P.O.Box 1470
Cripple Creek, Co 80813

Gold Rush Newspaper (Weekly)
P.O. Box 839
Cripple Creek, CO 80813
Telephone no. - 719/687-3006