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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.
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 |
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.
Updated August 3, 2006
For more information, contact ATSDR at:
770-488-0700 or e-mail (news media)
ATSDR
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