The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a public health agency of U.S. Department Health and Human Services, today announced the availability of its draft public health assessment for the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant, in Independence, Missouri.
ATSDR prepared this public health assessment to evaluate exposure pathways and to respond to community concerns about past, current, and potential future exposures to contaminants originating at Lake City Army Ammunition Plant. After evaluating available information, ATSDR found that contaminant releases at the plant do not pose a public health hazard. Because exposure to contaminants in groundwater and from air emissions in the past may have occurred, ATSDR has categorized this site as a "No Apparent Public Health Hazard"
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, such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state and local health and environmental departments, concerning actions to protect public health.
The draft health assessment will be available for public review and comment on or about October 20, 2000, at the following repositories:
Mid Continent Public Library
Blue Springs South Branch
2220 South 7 Highway
Blue Springs, MO 64014
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Lake City Army Ammunition Plant
Intersection of Hwys 7 & 78, Building 5
Independence, MO 64051-0250
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The public comment period for the health assessment will run from October 20, 2000, until November 22, 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 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 Freedom of Information Act.
Community members seeking information on the procedures or content of the health assessment should contact Jeff Kellam, ATSDR environmental health scientist, toll free, at 1-888-42-ATSDR (1-888-422-8737). Callers should refer to the "Lake City Army Ammunition Plant site" when asking to speak with a Health Assessor in the Division of Health Assessment and Consultation. The ATSDR Senior Regional Representative, Denise Jordan-Izaguirre also may be called for information at (913) 551-1310 in Kansas City.