Atlanta - The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, today announced that the agency's ombudsman will release his report regarding agency activities related to the Stauffer Chemical site in Tarpon Springs, Florida, on Thursday, January 11, 2001.

In response to requests from residents, citizen groups in the Tarpon Springs area, and Congressman Michael Bilirakis, the ATSDR ombudsman reviewed agency activities at the site. Some residents felt that documents previously prepared by ATSDR and the Florida Department of Health regarding health effects related to contamination around the site were incomplete and did not adequately address community concerns.

The ATSDR ombudsman serves as an independent resource available to any person or organization who: has environmental health concerns involving ATSDR; feels that they are not being heard; and has exhausted all other resources. The ombudsman can conduct an impartial investigation of those concerns, and prepare a written report which outlines the facts and the ombudsman's recommendations. The report is then presented to the ATSDR Assistant Administrator and made available to the public.

ATSDR Ombudsman Ronnie Wilson conducted a year-long review of the agencies' work at the site and will present a report of his findings to the agency and to the public at a meeting on Thursday, January 11. The public availability session will take place at the Tarpon Springs Performing Arts Center, at 324 E. Pine Street, from 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. Wilson will present an overview of the report at 7:00 p.m. His presentation will be followed by an opportunity for residents to talk one-on-one with Assistant Administrator Dr. Henry Falk and other members of the ATSDR staff.

Copies of the report will be available for review on January 12, at the following repository:

For more information about the report, or to obtain a copy, please contact ATSDR Ombudsman Ronnie Wilson, toll free, at 1-888-42-ATSDR (1-888-422-8737).