Activities in
Maine
ATSDR in Partnership With Maine
A public health as-
From fiscal years
sessment is a written,
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease
1987 through 2003,
comprehensive evalu-
Registry (ATSDR) is the lead public health agency
ATSDR awarded
ation of available data
responsible for implementing the health-related
more than 0,000
and information about
provisions of the Comprehensive Environmental
in direct funds and
the release of hazard-
Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980
services to Maine.
ous substances into the
(CERCLA). ATSDR is an Atlanta-based federal
environment in a specific
agency with more than 400 employees and a budget
geographic area. Such
for 2004 of approximately million. ATSDR
releases are assessed for current or future impact on
assesses the presence and nature of health hazards at
public health. ATSDR, in collaboration with public
specific Superfund sites, helps to prevent or reduce
health and environmental officials from Maine, has
further exposure and illnesses resulting from those
conducted 14 public health assessments in the state,
hazards, and expands the knowledge base about the
including the following recent examples.
health effects of exposure to hazardous substances.
Eastern Surplus--ATSDR first became involved
ATSDR works closely with state agencies to carry
in the Eastern Surplus Company site in the 1980s
out its mission to serve the public by using the best
when the Maine Department of Environmental
science, taking responsive public health actions,
Protection (MEDEP) started investigating
and providing trusted health information to prevent
the site. From 1946 through 1976, the site in
harmful exposures and disease related to toxic
Meddybemps was used for storing and selling
substances. ATSDR provides funding and technical
military surplus goods and other refuse. Because
assistance to states and other partners through
of past activities at the site and the potential for
evaluate environmental health threats to communities.
Lake and Dennys River, the site was placed on the
These resources enable state and local health
NPL in June 1996.
departments and other grantees to further investigate
environmental health concerns and to educate
surface soil, surface water, sediment, ambient
communities. From fiscal years 1987 through 2003,
air, and fish tissue have been sampled.
ATSDR awarded more than 0,000 in direct funds
Sampling results indicate that on-site soils were
and services to Maine for financial support of specific
contaminated with various organic compounds,
environmental health activities. In addition to direct
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and metals that
funds and services, ATSDR staff provides technical
and administrative guidance for state-conducted site
water; sediments; and, possibly, biota.
activities.
A number of removal and cleanup actions have
occurred at the site. These actions included
ATSDR Site-Specific Activities
removing hazardous materials (e.g., drummed
Public Health Assessment-Related Activities
chemicals and stained soil) and physical
One of ATSDR's important mandates is to conduct
hazards (e.g., decayed gas cylinders and
debris), excavating contaminated soil, installing
List (NPL) sites and of other sites where a significant
a groundwater pump-and-treat system, and
threat to public health might exist. Fourteen sites
conducting long-term monitoring to verify the
have been designated to the NPL in Maine.
effectiveness of the remedial actions.
Previous Page
