ATSDR Releases Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division Keyport (NUWC) Health Assessment For Public Review and Comment

Friday, August 17, 2001
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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 Undersea Warfare Center Division Keyport (NUWC) in Keyport, Washington.

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 associated with the Naval Undersea Warfare Center. ATSDR evaluated environmental information for all areas of contamination on-and adjacent to-the base and identified three exposure pathways where the potential for human exposure existed: 1) past, current, and future exposures to contaminants in the foodchain; 2) past, current, and future exposures to contaminants in drinking water; and 3) past exposure to contaminants in indoor air.

On the basis of the most currently available information, ATSDR has determined that exposures to contaminants in the groundwater underneath and adjacent to NUWC and in shellfish in marine waters surrounding the site do not pose a public health hazard. ATSDR also evaluated past exposures to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in indoor air in modular offices on Keyport Landfill and determined that past exposures did not pose a 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 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 public health assessment is being released at this time as a draft for public comment. The public comment period is intended to provide members of the public with an opportunity to review the document, and to provide their comments, questions, or additional information to ATSDR for consideration prior to publication of the final public health assessment.

The health assessment will be available for public review and comment on or about August 17, 2001, at the following repository:

Central Branch, Kitsap Library
1301 Sulivan Way
Bremerton, WA 98310
Contact: Sandy Carlson
(360) 405-9139
Poulsbo Branch, Kitsap Library
700 N.E. Lincoln Road
Poulsbo, WA 98370-7688
Contact: Susan Lavin 
(360) 779-2915
Kitsap Public Utility District No. 1
1431 Finn Hill Road
Poulsbo, WA 98370
Contact: Dave Siburg
(360) 779-7656

The public comment period for the health assessment will run from August 17, 2001 through September 18, 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 Health Assessor Carole D. Hossom, toll free, at 1-888-42-ATSDR (1-888-422-8737). Callers should refer to "Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division, Keyport (NUWC.) " ATSDR Regional Representative Richard Robinson also may be called for information at (206) 553-5114.


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Page last reviewed: August 17, 2001