ATSDR - Agana Power Plant Site in Mongmong, Guam

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

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ATSDR MEDIA ANNOUNCEMENT

ATSDR Releases Public Health Assessment for Review and Comment
on Agana Power Plant Site in Mongmong, Guam

Site Poses No Apparent Public Health Hazard

For Immediate Release: April 14, 2004

ATLANTA - The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a public health agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, today released for public review and comment a public health assessment addressing human exposure to various contaminants at the Agana Power Plant (APP) site in Mongmong, Guam.

Built in 1949, the APP was once owned and operated by the U.S. Navy. APP previously provided electricity to the Navy, the Guam government, and customers in the central and northern parts of the island. The Navy Public Works Center and Guam Utilities Department, which formerly operated the plant, stopped generating power after NAS Agana's closure in 1995. After the Navy discontinued its power-generating activities, the Guam Power Authority began using the power plant as a substation, and the plant continues to operate as such.

This public health assessment evaluates two possible exposure situations: (1) breathing contaminants from past APP stack discharges, and (2) drinking water from municipal or private wells and Agana Spring.

ATSDR evaluated the air and groundwater pathways at the former Navy Agana power plant and addressed community concerns about chemical releases from operation of the power plant and military and nonmilitary operations.

ATSDR has determined that exposure to the chemicals detected at the locations sampled do not pose a public health hazard. However, specific information about power plant operations is insufficient for a complete evaluation of past air emissions. Groundwater investigations are ongoing to better determine if contamination is present and if there is a need for further evaluation of water or soil gas. Ongoing monitoring indicates that drinking water from municipal water supplies located near the Agana Power Plant pose no past or current hazards due to chemical contamination. Bacterial contamination is monitored and "boil water" advisories and corrective actions are taken as they are identified. ATSDR has included recommendations and noted ongoing actions by the military and Guam agencies that address community concerns and reduce potential exposures.

The PHA is available for review and comment through May 31 at these repositories:
Nieves M. Flores Public Library
254 Martyr Street
Agana, Guam 96910
(671) 475-4752

Robert F. Kennedy Library Micronesia Area Research Center
University of Guam University of Guam
303 University Drive 303 University Drive
UOG Station UOG Station
Mangilao, Guam 96923 Mangilao, Guam 96923
(671) 735-2341 (671) 735-2156

Comments on the public health assessment must be made in writing. Mail comments to
Chief, Program Evaluation, Records and Information Services Branch
ATSDR
1600 Clifton Road, N.E. (MS E-60)
Atlanta, GA 30333

Comments received during this public comment period will be logged in to ATSDR's administrative record for this health assessment. Comments received, without the names of individuals who submitted them, and ATSDR's responses to the comments will appear in an appendix to the final public health assessment. Names of those who submit comments, however, will be subject to release to requests made under the U.S. Freedom of Information Act.

For more information, community members can contact Environmental Health Scientist Charles Grosse or Health Communications Specialist La Freta Dalton, toll free, at 1-888-422-8737. Regional Representative Gwen Eng can be contacted at 415-947-4317.

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. Established by Congress in 1980 under the Superfund law, ATSDR conducts public health assessments at each of the sites on the EPA National Priorities List, as well as other sites when petitioned.

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Members of the news media can request an interview with ATSDR staff by calling Jennifer Sarginson or Jill Smith in the ATSDR Office of Communication at 404-498-0070.

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Updated by R. Searfoss April 19, 2004
For more information, contact ATSDR at:
1-888-422-8737 or e-mail (public inquiries)
404-498-0080 or e-mail (news media)