ATSDR Releases Final Public Health Assessment for Camp Bonneville Military Reservation

Monday, September 22, 2008
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The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) has completed its public health assessment of the Camp Bonneville Military Reservation in Clark County, Washington. On the basis of its evaluation of the available environmental information, ATSDR has categorized exposures to contamination at Camp Bonneville as posing no apparent public health hazard. This means exposure to site-related chemicals might have occurred in the past, or may occur in the future, but not at levels likely to cause adverse health effects in humans.

Though no public access is currently allowed on the property until clean up efforts are completed, ATSDR has recommended the following:

  • Future visitors to the park should be educated about the possible appearance of Unexploded Ordinance and what to do should they encounter such materials.
  • Groundwater in the vicinity of Landfill 4 - approximately two acres located in the extreme northern area of the park - should not be used for drinking.
  • "No Hunting" signs should be posted throughout the property since hunting is not recommended, according to the Camp Bonneville reuse plan.
  • Firing ranges in the park are not recommended.

The United States Army gave early transfer of the 3,840-acre site to Clark County, which in turn transferred the property to the Bonneville Conservation Restoration and Renewal Team (BCRRT) for clean up. Upon completion of the cleanup, BCRRT will transfer the property back to Clark County for use as a regional park. Until the final transfer of the park back to Clark County, no public access is allowed on the property.

Residents are encouraged to read the public health assessment, copies of which are available from ATSDR or at the Vancouver Mall Community Library (8700 NE Vancouver Mall Drive, Site 183, Vancouver, WA 98622). ATSDR received comments on the public health assessment through May 16, 2008 and logged them into the ATSDR administrative record. Comments received, and ATSDR's responses to the comments, appear in the final public health assessment.

For more information about the public health assessment, call Katie Pugh, Health Assessor, at 770-488-0765 or Greg Zarus, Team Lead, (770) 488-0778 or call 1-800-CDC-INFO.

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 by calling the NCEH/ATSDR Office of Communication at 770-488-0700.


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Page last reviewed: September 22, 2008