ATSDR MEDIA ANNOUNCEMENT

ATSDR to Host Community Meeting for Garvey Grain Elevator, West Highway 6 and 281 Sites

For Immediate Release: September 18, 2006

ATLANTA - The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) will host a public meeting on September 27, 2006 in Hastings, Nebraska, to gather community health concerns related to the Garvey Grain Elevator and West Highway 6 and 281 sites.

The meeting will be held from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Hastings Public Library, 517 West 4th in Hastings. Community members are welcome to stop by any time during the meeting and speak with a member of the ATSDR staff one-on-one about site-related health concerns.

ATSDR will compile all the information gathered, and then release a public health consultation. The consultation will contain conclusions about possible site-related health hazards and recommendations to protect the public's health, as well as public comments gathered at the meeting.

Community members who have questions regarding the upcoming meeting can contact Environmental Health Scientist Jane Zhu at 404-498-0468 for West Highway 6 and 281 site, for the Garvey Grain Elevator site contact Lead Toxicologist Deborah Boling at 404-498-1751, or Health Communication Specialist Marilyn Palmer at 1-888-422-8737.  Those unable to attend can submit their concerns online at www.atsdr.cdc.gov/contactus.html, or they may mail them to

ATSDR/HPCIP, Marilyn Palmer
1600 Clifton Rd. Mailstop E-32
Atlanta, Ga. 30333

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.