ATSDR MEDIA ANNOUNCEMENT

Easy Access to Anaconda Mine Site Makes It a Public Health Hazard

Public Comment Period Ends March 10

For Immediate Release: February 2, 2006

ATLANTA - Easy access to the Yerington Anaconda Mine Site in Yerington, Nev., is a public health hazard, says the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) in a report called a public health consultation.

ATSDR released the health consultation for public comment with responses due to the agency by March 10.

The agency says current barriers are inadequate to restrict access of unauthorized persons to high-hazard areas at the site. Additional conclusions in the report include:

• Off-site, short-term exposure to airborne contaminants downwind of the site is an indeterminate public health hazard, meaning critical air monitoring information is currently not available.
• Mine operations have contaminated groundwater, which has migrated off-site. Down-gradient drinking water wells are contaminated with uranium and arsenic, however, available groundwater monitoring data are not adequate to determine whether these contaminants are site-related.
• Tailings piles and evaporation ponds are potential sources of airborne particulates. These particles are only likely to become airborne during peak wind events.
• Current air monitoring programs designed to assess long-term average conditions are not adequate to evaluate peak events.
• Ongoing air and groundwater monitoring programs have significant limitations for assessing potential past and future exposures to the off-site community.
• Contaminants present include airborne respiratory irritants such as sulfates and sulfides and arsenic and uranium in ground water.

ATSDR’s recommendations include the following:

• Improve site fencing and hazard signage to better restrict public access. Emphasize limiting access to the high-hazard former processing areas.
• People currently receiving bottled water should continue receiving and using this water for drinking and cooking. Based on measured contaminant concentrations, non-potable uses of well water for bathing, cleaning and irrigation are not a health hazard and may be continued.
• Collect additional off-site groundwater monitoring data to assess the off-site distribution of site-related contaminants. Improve ongoing domestic well sampling by developing an agency-approved sampling and analysis plan.
• People with private wells in Mason Valley should have their water tested to ensure that uranium and arsenic concentrations are at safe levels.
  Ongoing air monitoring programs should target contaminant loads in peak wind events. Add sulfate (or total sulfur) to the list of measured chemicals.

The health consultation is available for public review and comment through March 10. The public comment period is an opportunity for residents to review and comment on the findings or proposed activities noted in the consultation.

Residents are encouraged to make comments and may review the health consultation at:

South Lion County Library
20 Nevin Way
Yerington, Nev.

or

Yerington Piaute Tribal Office
171 Campbell Lane
Yerington, Nev.

Comments should be mailed to:

ATSDR Records Center
1600 Clifton Road, N.E. (MS E-60)
Atlanta, GA 30333

Or provided via e-mail to: ATSDRRecordsCenter@cdc.gov Subject: YAM Site HC

Comments received during the public comment period will be logged in to the ATSDR administrative record for this public health consultation. Comments received, and ATSDR responses to the comments, will appear in the final public health consultation.

For more information about the public health consultation, call Health Communication Specialist Youlanda Outin toll-free at 1-888-422-8737. Regional Representative Libby Vianu also may be contacted at 415-947-4319.

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.