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 health assessment for the Naval Air Station-Cecil Field, in Jacksonville, Florida.

In preparing the public health assessment, ATSDR evaluated available health and environmental data for the Main Base Area and the Yellow Water Weapons Area at the base. The document is being published as a draft for public comment so that members of the community, local officials, and others interested in the site can review the agency's findings and provide additional comments and suggestions or ask questions prior to publication of the report in final form.

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 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. Navy, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (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 July 10, 2001, at the following repositories:

The public comment period for the health assessment will run from July 10, 2001 through
August 30, 2001. 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 can contact ATSDR Environmental Health Scientist Charles Grosse, toll free, at 1-888-42-ATSDR (1-888-422-8737). Callers should refer to the "Naval Air Station-Cecil Field." ATSDR Senior Regional Representative Bob Safay also may be called for information at (404) 562-1782 in Atlanta.