possible from eating fish or shellfish collected
installed carbon filtration systems to remove
from Goose Pond or Goose Cove. People who
occasionally eat mussels from Goose Cove are
low concentration of trichloroethylene (TCE) in
not likely to experience health effects from
none of the residents are exposed to harmful levels
collecting or eating shellfish from Goose Pond,
of TCE in their residential water.
Goose Cove, and other nearby areas is banned
Members of the surrounding communities are
because of elevated levels of metals and other
concerned about the health impacts from past
exposure to TCE. Some residents perceive an
ATSDR recommends that the property owners
increase of illness in their community and are
discourage access to the site by using signage and
concerned about cancer and its possible relation to
barriers until physical hazards are removed and
TCE in groundwater.
cleanup activities are complete.
In November 2000, ATSDR was asked to review
ATSDR recommends that EPA, MEDEP, or
groundwater sampling data and investigate
other relevant agencies conduct more extensive
possible public health impacts from exposure
biota sampling to determine concentrations
to TCE in residential wells. The purpose of the
of heavy metals in fish and shellfish tissues in
health consultation released in August 2001 was
Goose Pond;Goose Cove; and if determined to
to determine public health impacts of exposure
be appropriate, waters adjacent to Goose Cove.
to TCE in groundwater, recommend appropriate
Adequate background sampling should be
actions needed to reduce or eliminate exposure to
conducted to determine the naturally occurring
hazardous substances and protect public health,
concentrations of heavy metals in the Brooksville
and respond to community concerns regarding
area.
chemical contamination originating from the
former radar tracking facility.
ATSDR recommends that the Holbrook Island
Sanctuary ranger and Brooksville and Maine State
ATSDR's investigation found no data to indicate
Police increase vigilance to ensure that people
a current human health hazard from exposure
follow the shellfish ban and other fish advisories
to groundwater contamination. In the health
applicable near the site.
consultation, ATSDR recommended that the Army
Corps of Engineers and MEDEP continue close
EPA will complete remedial investigation activities
monitoring of private drinking water wells near
for the site. If requested, ATSDR will work with
the site and include other private wells in sampling
EPA and/or MEDEP to develop an appropriate
program. In addition, ATSDR recommended that
biota sampling plan for the site.
state health and environment agencies provide
A health consultation is a written or oral response
information about private well maintenance and
from ATSDR to a specific request for information
water laboratory analysis to current and future
about health risks related to a specific site, chemical
residents who live near the site.
release, or hazardous material. A health consultation is
Loring Air Force Base--The Aroostook Band of
a more limited response than a public health assess-
Micmac Indians is acquiring land formerly used
ment is. To date, 98 documented health consultations
have been conducted at 34 sites in Maine, including
is working with the Aroostook Band of Micmac
the following recent examples.
Indians and the Loring Air Force Base to determine
Buck's Harbor Air Force Radar Tracking
ATSDR involvement in a health consultation
Station--Past operations at the former Buck's
related to hazardous materials found on this land.
Harbor Air Force Radar Tracking Station
Penobscot Indian Nation Dioxin Food Chain
in Machiasport resulted in groundwater
Contamination--ATSDR has an interagency
agreement with the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
to provide public health support to BIA for various
wells. When contamination was discovered in
issues. ATSDR, BIA, EPA, U.S. Geological
1994, the Army Corps of Engineers and MEDEP
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