ATSDR - ATSDR releases the public comment version of its public health assessment for the Molycorp site near Questa, New Mexico

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ATSDR MEDIA ANNOUNCEMENT
ATSDR releases the public comment version of its
public health assessment for the Molycorp site
near Questa, New Mexico

For Immediate Release: October 9, 2002

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a public health agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, announced today the release of the results of its draft public health assessment for the Molycorp, Inc., Questa Division, site near Questa, New Mexico.

The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed that the site be placed on the National Priorities List. The site is located near the village of Questa, Taos County, New Mexico.

ATSDR reviewed available information about groundwater and drinking water, soil, surface water and sediment, and air quality to determine possible exposure pathways. After reviewing available environmental data, ATSDR has classified the site as posing no apparent public health hazard associated with current or future exposures to mining-related contaminants. ATSDR considers past exposures at the Molycorp site an indeterminate public health hazard due to the limited nature of historical groundwater and air monitoring.

Members of the community who believe they are experiencing adverse health effects related to substances from the Molycorp site are asked to share their health concerns with ATSDR. Please call Lovyst Luker, environmental health scientist, or Shan Ching Tsai, toxicologist, toll free, at 1-888-422-8737, or call Patrick Young, ATSDR region VI representative, in Dallas at 214-665-8562. Please refer to the "Molycorp site" when calling.

ATSDR will be conducting a public meeting in the future date to allow community members to talk one-on-one with ATSDR staff about their health concerns. The agency will evaluate the health concerns provided by community members to determine if any adverse health effects are the result of exposure to substances from the Molycorp site.

The draft public health assessment is available for review and comment at the following repositories:

Village of Questa Buildings
2500 Old State Rd. 3
Questa, NM

New Mexico Environment Department
1190 St. Francis Dr.
Santa Fe, NM

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

The public comment period runs through November 13, 2002.

Comments received during the public comment period will be logged and become part of the administrative record for the health consultation. Comments (without indication of who made them) and ATSDR's responses will be included in an appendix to the final document. Although names of those who have submitted comments will not be included in the document, names will be subject to release under the Freedom of Information Act.

Please send written comments to:

Chief, Program Evaluation, Records and Information Services Branch
ATSDR
1600 Clifton Road, NE, Mailstop E-56
Atlanta, GA 30333

Community members seeking more information may contact Environmental Health Scientist Lovyst Luker 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 site" when calling.

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This page updated October 16, 2002
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)