Activities in
South Dakota
ATSDR in Partnership With
specific geographic
ATSDR has conducted
area. Such releases
South Dakota
five public health
are assessed for past,
assessments and
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease
current, or future
16 health consultations
Registry (ATSDR) is the lead public health agency
impact on public
in South Dakota.
responsible for implementing the health-related
health. ATSDR, in
provisions of the Comprehensive Environmental
collaboration with
Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980
public health and
(CERCLA). ATSDR is an Atlanta-based federal
environmental officials from South Dakota, has
agency with more than 400 employees and a budget
conducted five public health assessments in the state,
for 2004 of approximately million. ATSDR
including the following recent example.
assesses the presence and nature of health hazards at
Gilt Edge Mine--Located near Deadwood, the
specific Superfund sites, helps to prevent or reduce
Gilt Edge Mine is an open-pit, cyanide-heapleach
further exposure and illnesses resulting from those
gold mine. Sulfide waste rock and exposed ore
hazards, and expands the knowledge base about the
health effects of exposure to hazardous substances.
cadmium, cobalt, copper, lead, and zinc. High
ATSDR works closely with state agencies to carry
levels of nitrates and sulfates also are present
out its mission to serve the public by using the best
in heap-leach residues. In 1999, the operating
science, taking responsive public health actions,
company was no longer able to maintain the site.
and providing trusted health information to prevent
It left 150 million gallons of acidic, heavy-metal
harmful exposures and disease related to toxic
laden water in three open pits, as well as millions
substances. ATSDR provides funding and technical
of cubic yards of acid-generating waste rock
assistance to states and other partners through
requiring cleanup and long-term treatment.
ATSDR is conducting a public health assessment
evaluate environmental health threats to communities.
for the site; however, more detailed environmental
These resources enable state and local health
information is needed before the assessment can
departments and other grantees to further investigate
be completed. The U.S. Environmental Protection
environmental health concerns and to educate
Agency (EPA) is conducting the necessary
communities. In addition to direct funds and services,
environmental sampling and other investigations
ATSDR provides technical and administrative
to obtain the information. The remedial
guidance for state-conducted site activities.
investigation and risk assessment, which should be
complete by early 2005, will determine the extent
ATSDR Site-Specific Activities
of risk for both humans and the environment.
Public Health Assessment-Related Activities
A health consultation is a written or oral response
One of ATSDR's important mandates is to conduct
from ATSDR to a specific request for information
about health risks related to a specific site, chemical
List (NPL) sites and of other sites where a significant
release, or hazardous material. A health consultation
threat to public health might exist. A public health
is a more limited response than a public health
assessment is a written, comprehensive evaluation
assessment is. Sixteen health consultations have been
of available data and information about the release
developed at 14 sites in South Dakota, including the
of hazardous substances into the environment in a
following recent examples.
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