Activities in
Arkansas
ATSDR in Partnership With
been designated
From fiscal years 1989 through
to the NPL in
Arkansas
2002, ATSDR awarded more
Arkansas.
than .9 million in direct
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Regis-
A public health
funds and services to the state
try (ATSDR) is the lead public health agency respon-
assessment is a
of Arkansas.
sible for implementing the health-related provisions
written, compre-
of the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
hensive evalua-
Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA).
tion of available data and information on the release
ATSDR is an Atlanta-based federal agency with more
of hazardous substances into the environment in a
than 400 employees and an annual budget for 2002
specific geographic area. Such releases are assessed
of million. ATSDR is responsible for assessing
for current or future impact on public health. ATSDR,
the presence and nature of health hazards at specific
in collaboration with public health and environmental
Superfund sites, helping to prevent or reduce further
officials from Arkansas, has conducted 20 health as-
exposure and illnesses resulting from those hazards,
sessments in the state. Following is a recent example
and expanding the knowledge base about the health
of a public health assessment in Arkansas:
effects of exposure to hazardous substances.
Mountain Pine Pressure Treating--The
ATSDR works closely with state agencies to carry
Mountain Pine Pressure Treating, Inc. site is a
out its mission of preventing exposure to contami-
former wood-treating facility on the western
nants at hazardous waste sites and preventing adverse
border of Plainview. At the site, lumber was
health effects. ATSDR provides funding and techni-
treated with solutions of pentachlorophenol
cal assistance to states and other partners through
and chromated copper arsenate. The Arkansas
Department of Health (ADH) evaluated soil,
evaluate environmental health threats to communi-
sediment, water, and fish data to determine
ties. These resources enable state and local health
whether a public health hazard existed at the site.
departments to further investigate environmental
Exposure situations evaluated for the site
health concerns and to educate communities. ATSDR
1 American Indian nation (the Gila River Indian
water, and fish. Off-site soil was considered the
Community), and 1 commonwealth (the Puerto Rico
Department of Health). From fiscal years 1989
primary pathway of concern because it was a
through 2002, ATSDR awarded more than .9 mil-
known completed exposure pathway. Because
lion in direct funds and services to the state of
insufficient off-site data were available, the
Arkansas. In addition to direct funds and services,
off-site soil pathway was categorized as an
indeterminate public health hazard. Also, because
ATSDR provides technical and administrative guid-
of limited fish sampling, the fish ingestion
ance for state-conducted site activities.
pathway was categorized as an indeterminate
ATSDR Site-Specific Activities
public health hazard. Because of potential
exposure to on-site soils, this site was categorized
Public Health Assessment-Related Activities
as a public health hazard.
One of the agency's important mandates is to conduct
A health consultation is a written or oral response
from ATSDR to a specific request for information
List (NPL) sites and of other sites where a significant
about health risks related to a specific site, chemical
threat to public health might exist. Sixteen sites have
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