ATSDR MEDIA ANNOUNCEMENT

ATSDR Report Finds No Exposure to Contaminated Groundwater from the Oak Ridge Reservation

For Immediate Release: August 3, 2006

ATLANTA - A report released by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) concludes that contaminated off-site groundwater from the Oak Ridge Reservation is not a public health hazard.

Although groundwater contamination exists at the Oak Ridge Reservation, ATSDR's review found that human exposure to contaminated groundwater outside of the Oak Ridge Reservation boundary has not occurred in the past, is not currently occurring, and is not likely to occur in the future.

The public health assessment focuses on community exposure to off-site groundwater. ATSDR scientists determined that most groundwater beneath the Oak Ridge Reservation is relatively shallow and discharges to springs, seeps and streams before leaving the site. Therefore, community exposure to contamination from groundwater is not likely to occur.

Three possible off-site groundwater exposure scenarios were evaluated and show that there is no public health hazards associated with groundwater originating from the Oak Ridge Reservation.

• Private residential wells. The only area where contaminated groundwater has migrated beyond the Oak Ridge Reservation is located just east of the Y-12 complex in Union Valley. The land in this area is zoned for industrial purposes, and there are no private residences or private wells in this area. Also, residential wells closest to the site have been monitored and results show that these wells have not been affected by contamination from activities at the Oak Ridge Reservation.
• Seeps and springs. Of the seeps, springs, or monitoring wells beyond the Oak Ridge Reservation boundaries, site-related contaminants have only been detected at Union Valley, east of the Y-12 complex. The levels of contamination measured in these seeps or springs are below levels that cause health effects. All other seeps, springs and monitoring wells were free of site-related contaminants. The land in this area is zoned for industrial use and human contact with the seeps and springs is infrequent. Further, the surface water coming from the site is monitored.
• Inhaling vapors in nearby buildings. ATSDR evaluated the possibility of contaminant vapors entering the office building east of the Y-12 complex, which partially overlies the off-site contaminated groundwater area. Using available data and modeling, ATSDR determined that the estimated contaminant concentrations are well below levels of health concern.

The public health assessment previously was made available to the public for review and comment. The final version includes public and peer review comments and ATSDR's responses to those comments.

The public health assessment is available at the following locations:

Oak Ridge Public Library    Civic Center Oak Ridge, Tenn.		Harriman Public Library 1 Waldon Ave. Harriman, Tenn.
Kingston City Library        1004 Bradford Way               Kingston, Tenn.		Roane State Community College 276 Patton Lane   Harriman, Tenn.
Rockwood Public Library 117 N. Front Ave. Rockwood, Tenn.		Department of Energy Information Center 475 Oak Ridge Turnpike                           Oak Ridge, Tenn.      865-241-4780

The public health assessment and a summary are available on ATSDR's Oak Ridge Reservation Public Health Web site at www.atsdr.cdc.gov/HAC/oakridge.

The Oak Ridge Field Office is now closed. Members of the community with questions about this public health assessment may contact Environmental Health Scientists Trent LeCoultre or Jack Hanley or Health Communication Specialist Marilyn Palmer Horton, toll free, at 1-888-422-8737.

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.