ATSDR MEDIA ANNOUNCEMENT

ATSDR Releases Report about Contaminated Water in Ram Leather Care Superfund Site
for Public Review, Comment

For Immediate Release: August 31, 2005

ATLANTA - The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) released its public comment version of the public health assessment about exposures to chemicals in the water supply near the Ram Leather Care site in Charlotte, NC.

The Ram Leather Care Superfund Site is in eastern Mecklenburg County at 15100 Albemarle Road. The site is a former dry cleaning and leather goods restoration facility that operated from 1977 to 1993. Because of improper waste disposal practices, the site was added to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's National Priorities List (Superfund) in September 2003.

The assessment includes ATSDR's findings and a public health action plan, and is available for public review through Oct. 15. The public comment period is an opportunity for residents to review and comment on agency findings or proposed activities noted in the assessment. Residents are encouraged to review the document, and can do so at

Comments must be made in writing to:

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 that have questions about the report can contact Community Involvement Specialist Januett Smith-George or Health Assessor Teresa Foster, toll free, at 1-888-422-8737. Regional Representative Benjamin Moore also may be contacted, toll free, at 1-800-241-1754, ext. 21784. Callers should refer to the Ram Leather Care Superfund Site.

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.