"ATSDR to Discuss Findings with Community June 13 and 14

For Immediate Release: June 1, 2007

ATLANTA - The federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR).   (ATSDR) released a report today regarding the safety and effectiveness of the cleanup actions at the Anaconda smelter site. For the report, called a public health consultation, ATSDR evaluated the studies and decisions made to establish the cleanup level for arsenic in residential soil, responded to community questions about the decisions made, and determined the public health impact of using the cleanup level in the community.  In the report, called a public health assessment, ATSDR concludes

• The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) 1996 Baseline Human Health Risk Assessment for Anaconda uses reasonable assumptions for estimating the human health risk to arsenic.

• Chronic exposure to soil at the residential cleanup level of 250 milligrams of arsenic per kilogram of soil would not be expected to result in adverse health effects for resident children or adults.

• Children who exhibit soil pica behavior (eat soil) could experience adverse health effects if they ate gram quantities of soil containing arsenic. Areas containing soil with arsenic at levels high enough to cause adverse health effects when eaten could remain, even after cleanup.

• Activities that disturb the soil surface, such as excavation could increase risk and may require further evaluation.

The report recommends

• EPA and ARCO should continue to cleanup of residential properties.
• The Community Protective Measures Plan should include
  • Education of parents about risks associated with soil pica behavior in children.
  • Measures to protect against potential recontamination of residential surface soils with arsenic-contaminated subsurface soils.

ATSDR will hold a community meeting Wednesday June 13, 2007 and two public availability sessions Thursday June 14, 2007 at the Hearst Free Library, 401 Main Street in Anaconda, MT.  The agency-sponsored events are an opportunity for residents living and working near the Anaconda smelter site to learn about ATSDR's findings, ask questions, and find out how to submit public comments about the report.

The June 13 community meeting will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. ATSDR will make a brief presentation about the report findings and take questions from the audience afterwards.

The June 14 public availability sessions will provide community members the opportunity to meet one-on-one with ATSDR staff, ask questions and share their concerns. The two sessions will be held noon to 2:00 p.m., and 6:00 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The public comment period is an opportunity for community members to review and comment on agency findings or proposed activities noted in the report. The report can be viewed at http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/HAC/pha/AnacondaCoSmelter/AnacondaCoSmelterHC052907.pdf, and will be available for public comment and review through July 13, 2007 at the Hearst Free Library.

Requests for copies of the report and comment submissions can be sent to:
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
ATTN:  ATSDR Records Center
1600 Clifton Road, MS, E-60
Atlanta, GA  30333

Comments received during the public comment period will be logged into the ATSDR administrative record. All comments that are received along with ATSDR responses will appear in an appendix to the final version of the report. The names of individuals and groups who submit comments will not appear in the report. However, the names will be subject to release for requests made under the U.S. Freedom of Information Act.

Members of the community who have questions about this public health consultation or ATSDR activities at the Anaconda Co. Smelter may contact Jill Dyken, Environmental Health Scientist, or Marilyn Palmer, Health Communication Specialist, toll-free at 1-800-CDC-INFO.  Community members may also call ATSDR Regional Representative Dan Strasbaugh at 406-457-5007.

ATSDR, a federal public health agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, evaluates the human health effects of exposure to hazardous substances.

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Members of the news media can request an interview with ATSDR staff by calling the NCEH/ATSDR Office of Communication at 770-488-0700.