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ATSDR MEDIA ANNOUNCEMENT

ATSDR Releases Public Health Assessment for Radioactive and Non-Radioactive Hazardous Substances at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Site in Livermore, Calif.

Site Poses No Apparent Public Health Hazard

For Immediate Release: Feb. 20, 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 comment a draft of a public health assessment (PHA) addressing potential off-site (community) exposures to radioactive and non-radioactive hazardous substances released from the main site of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) in Livermore, Calif.

The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is a multi-program research facility owned by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and operated by the University of California. The LLNL is a science, technology, and engineering facility with a special focus on nuclear weapons research and development. LLNL was placed on the Superfund National Priorities List (NPL) in 1987 on the basis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs; trichloroethylene, tetrachloroethylene, chloroform, 1,1-dichloroethylene, and others) in monitor wells and nearby drinking water wells.

The purpose of this PHA (required for all sites proposed for the NPL) is to evaluate the potential for community exposures to, and potential health effects from, LLNL-released substances that may be present in off-site ground water, surface water, soil and sediment, air, and locally grown foodstuffs. Specifically, the PHA will provide focused evaluations of the following public health issues:

" An assessment of the potential historic exposure doses to groundwater contaminants (this issue was the basis for the selection of the LLNL main site to the NPL).

An assessment of the public health hazard from exposure to LLNL-released hazardous substances that may be present in off-site soil and sediment.

An assessment of the potential cumulative radiological doses to members of the Livermore community. Doses from specific pathways, such as the accidental tritium releases and Pu-contaminated sewage sludge, have been previously addressed. This PHA will address the potential for cumulative ionizing radiation exposures to the different radionuclides.

In addition to evaluation of the above specific public health issues, the PHA will also evaluate the potential for community exposure to LLNL hazardous substances that may be present in off-site surface waters, air, and locally grown foodstuffs.

Based on the findings, past and ongoing operations and releases from the LLNL facility, including the Naval Air Station previously on this site, this site has been categorized as no apparent public health hazard. This conclusion means that although community exposures to site-related contaminants may have, or be occurring, the resulting doses are unlikely to result in any adverse health effects and are consequently, below levels of public health concern.

The public health assessment will be available for review and comment from March 1 through April 30, 2004 at the following repositories:

Livermore Public Library
1000 South Livermore Ave.
Livermore, CA 94550

Lawrence Livermore National Lab Discovery (L-797)
7000 East Ave.
Livermore, CA 94550

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 Mark Evans, site team leader, or Loretta Bush, community involvement specialist, toll free, at 1-888-422-8737. Regional Representative Gwendolyn Eng also may 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. Headquartered in Atlanta, ATSDR is staffed by more than 400 health professionals including epidemiologists, physicians, toxicologists, engineers and public health educators.

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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 February 20, 2004
For more information, contact ATSDR at:
1-888-422-8737 or e-mail (public inquiries)
404-498-0080 or e-mail (news media)