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 final version of its health assessment for the Georgia-Pacific Corporation Hardwood Sawmill site in Washington County, North Carolina.

ATSDR prepared the public health assessment after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) listed the site on its National Priorities List (NPL). ATSDR is mandated by Congress to assess the public health impacts of each site listed on the NPL. 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.

ATSDR concluded that the Georgia-Pacific Corporation Hardwood Sawmill site currently presents no apparent public health hazard. Because of elevated dioxin levels in fish, recreational fishing in the Roanoke River does present a current completed exposure pathway off-site; however, fish are safe for consumption if eaten in accordance with the fish advisory issued by the state of North Carolina. Also, workers at the site were likely exposed in the past to several metals, pesticides and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH's) in the soils prior to EPA's removal action.

ATSDR has recommended that, even though dioxin levels in fish have decreased, the fish advisory for the Roanoke River should remain in effect while more data is collected. ATSDR also recommended that the wetland ditch area surrounding the site be tested for possible contamination because of overland flow from the site. EPA has completed this sampling, but results are not yet available.

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 (EPA) and state and local health and environmental departments, concerning actions to protect public health.

 The public health assessment will be available on or about February 1, 2001, at the following repository:

Washington County Library
201 E 3rd Street
Plymouth, North Carolina 27860
Gail Spiewak (252) 793-2113

Comments received during the public comment period have been logged and are now part of the administrative record for the health assessment. Comments (without indication of who made them) and responses have been included in an appendix to the final document.

Community members seeking information on the procedures or the content of this public health assessment should contact ATSDR Health Assessor Wayne Hall, toll free, at 1-888-42-ATSDR (1-888-422-8737). Callers should refer to the "GeorgiaPacific Corporation Hardwood Sawmill site" when asking to speak with a Health Assessor in the Division of Health Assessment and Consultation. The ATSDR Regional Representative, Bob Safay, also may be called for information at (404) 562-1782 in Atlanta, Georgia.

For more information about the health effects of hazardous substances such as dioxins, check the ToxFAQs on the ATSDR Web site at http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov.