ATSDR - Molycorp Inc. site near Questa, N.M.

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ATSDR MEDIA ANNOUNCEMENT
ATSDR to hold meetings to hear community's site-related health concerns for Molycorp Inc. site near Questa, N.M. Public health assessment will be revised

For Immediate Release: May 20, 2003

ATLANTA - The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a public health agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, will hold a community meeting followed by a public availability session June 25 for the Molycorp Inc. site near Questa, N.M. The site is listed on the Environmental Protection Agency's National Priorities List.

The meetings will be held June 25 at St. Anthony's Parish Center located at 10 Church Plaza in Questa. The community meeting will be from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and the public availability session will be from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. ATSDR staff also will be available on June 26 between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. to meet with individuals in the community as requested.

The purpose of the meetings is to gather input from community members on their health concerns about possible exposures to contaminants from the Molycorp mining site. During the community meeting, ATSDR will discuss the public health assessment process (PHA) and upcoming site activities, and members of the community may voice their concerns. During the public availability session, attendees will have the opportunity to talk one-on-one with ATSDR staff about their health concerns.

The meeting date has been scheduled with input from key community groups. ATSDR is providing several opportunities for community members to give input for the public health assessment.

The public comment period for the original draft of the PHA document issued Sept. 24, 2002 has been extended to June 19, 2003. ATSDR extended the comment period because the initial distribution of the document was incomplete.

Community health concerns submitted during the public comment period, comments submitted to the agency, and any new environmental data will be incorporated into a revised public health assessment. Later this year, after the document is updated, a new public comment period will be established and a second draft of the PHA will be released.

ATSDR is concerned about the public health issues related to the Molycorp site and the health of area residents. Typically, ATSDR coordinates with the community prior to writing and releasing a PHA for public comment. Unfortunately, ATSDR did not have an opportunity to meet with the community prior to the first release of the document. The agency's staff is working to establish community contacts and to ensure community questions and concerns are fully addressed.

Community members may comment on the original draft of the public health assessment through June 19, 2003. The document is available at the following repositories:

Village of Questa Buildings
2500 Old State Road 3
Questa, N.M.

New Mexico Environment Department
1190 St. Francis Drive
Santa Fe, N.M.

EPA - Region VI
1445 Ross Ave., Suite 1200
Dallas, Texas

Written comments can be made directly to ATSDR at the following address:

Chief, Program Evaluation, Records and Information Services Branch
ATSDR
1600 Clifton Rd., N.E. (MS E-32)
Atlanta, GA 30333

Comments received during the public comment period will be logged and become part of ATSDR's administrative record for this public 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 PHA. Names of those who submit comments, however, will be subject to release to requests made under the U.S. Freedom of Information Act.

Community members seeking information on the procedures used by ATSDR or the content of the public health assessment may contact Environmental Health Scientist Lovyst Luker and Health Communications Specialist Debra Joseph toll free, at 1-888-422-8737. Regional Representative Patrick Young also may be contacted in Dallas at 214-665-8562. Callers should refer to the Molycorp Inc. site near Questa, N.M.

Members of the news media may request an interview with ATSDR staff by calling Elaine McEachern or Kathy Skipper in the ATSDR Office of Policy and External Affairs at 404-498-0070.

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This page updated May 21, 2003
For more information, contact ATSDR at:
1-888-422-8737 or e-mail: atsdric@cdc.gov (public inquiries)
404-498-0080 or e-mail: atsdrmediainquires@cdc.gov (news media)