ATSDR MEDIA ANNOUNCEMENT

ATSDR to Host Public Availability Sessions for Commerce Street Plume Site

For Immediate Release: September 15, 2005

ATLANTA - The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) will host two public availability sessions on Sept. 21, 2005, in Williston, Vt., to gather community health concerns related to the Commerce Street Plume site.

The public availability sessions will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 21, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m and 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, 21 Library Lane in Williston. Community members are invited to stop by at any time during the sessions to talk to ATSDR staff one-on-one about their health concerns related to the Commerce Street Plume site.

The Commerce Street Plume site is an area of contaminated soil and groundwater at an industrial park in Williston. The contamination is believed to be associated with industrial solvents and electroplating wastes from the former Mitec Systems Corporation operations located at 96 Commerce Street. Contaminants in the soil and groundwater have also been found in nearby drinking water wells and surface waters. The contaminants include volatile organic compounds and metals, such as chromium, cadmium and nickel.

Community members who have questions about the upcoming availability sessions may contact Environmental Health Scientist Steve Richardson or Health Communication Specialist Debra Joseph at 1-888-422-8737. Those who cannot attend the sessions can submit their concerns online at www.atsdr.cdc.gov/contactus or by mail to

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 ATSDR Office of Communication at 770-488-0700.