Activities in
Minnesota
ATSDR in Partnership With
assessment is a
ATSDR awarded more
written, compre-
Minnesota
than
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.8 million in the last
hensive evaluation
2 years in direct funds and
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease
of available data
services to Minnesota.
Registry (ATSDR) is the lead public health agency
and information
responsible for implementing the health-related provi-
about the release of
sions of the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
hazardous sub-
Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA).
stances into the environment in a specific geographic
ATSDR is an Atlanta-based federal agency with more
area. Such releases are assessed for current or future
than 400 employees and a budget for 2004 of approxi-
impact on public health. ATSDR, in collaboration with
mately million. ATSDR assesses the presence and
public health and environmental officials from Min-
nature of health hazards at specific Superfund sites,
nesota, has conducted 66 public health assessments in
helps to prevent or reduce further exposure and ill-
the state, including the following recent examples.
nesses resulting from those hazards, and expands the
Gopher State Ethanol/Minnesota Brewing
knowledge base about the health effects of exposure to
Company--The Minnesota Department of
hazardous substances.
ATSDR works closely with state agencies to carry
with ATSDR, evaluated the public health
out its mission to serve the public by using the best
significance of air emissions from a plant that
science, taking responsive public health actions, and
manufactures ethanol from corn in a densely
providing trusted health information to prevent harm-
populated area near downtown St. Paul. In
ful exposures and disease related to toxic substances.
response to residents' complaints about odorous
ATSDR provides funding and technical assistance to
and irritating emissions, MDH requested stack
testing for numerous chemicals. Results showed
ments and grants to identify and evaluate environ-
that the plant was emitting many irritating
mental health threats to communities. These resources
aldehydes, acids, alcohols, and other chemicals.
enable state and local health departments and other
A thermal oxidizer and scrubbers have been
grantees to further investigate environmental health
installed, but complaints continue. In a public
concerns and to educate communities. From fiscal
health assessment released in September 2003,
years 1987 through 2003, ATSDR awarded more
MDH recommended that efforts to characterize
than .2 million--more than
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.8 million in the last
and control emissions continue. MDH is advising
2 years--in direct funds and services to Minnesota
for comprehensive support of its environmental health
(MPCA) on needed emissions testing and ambient
unit. In addition to direct funds and services, ATSDR
air monitoring.
staff provides technical and administrative guidance
ValAdCo Confined Livestock Operations--
for state-conducted site activities.
ATSDR and in response to a citizen's petition to
ATSDR Site-Specific Activities
ATSDR, evaluated the public health significance
Public Health Assessment-Related Activities
from seven ValAdCo hog feeding facilities near
One of ATSDR's important mandates is to conduct
one of the facilities exceeded state air quality
List (NPL) sites and of other sites where a significant
and health standards and pose a public health
threat to public health might exist. A public health
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