Activities in
Texas
ATSDR in Partnership With Texas
A public health
ATSDR awarded more
assessment is a
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease
than
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.4 million in the last
written, compre-
Registry (ATSDR) is the lead public health agency
2 years in direct funds and
hensive evaluation
responsible for implementing the health-related provi-
services to Texas.
of available data
sions of the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
and information on
Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA).
the release of haz-
ATSDR is an Atlanta-based federal agency with more
ardous substances into the environment in a specific
than 400 employees and an annual budget for 2003 of
geographic area. Such releases are assessed for current
approximately million. ATSDR is responsible for
or future impact on public health. ATSDR, in collabo-
assessing the presence and nature of health hazards at
ration with public health and environmental officials
specific Superfund sites, helping to prevent or reduce
from Texas, has conducted 67 health assessments in
further exposure and illnesses resulting from those
the state, including the following recent examples.
hazards, and expanding the knowledge base about the
Patrick Bayou--ATSDR and TDH prepared a
health effects of exposure to hazardous substances.
health assessment, released in March 2003, for the
ATSDR works closely with state agencies to carry
Patrick Bayou NPL site. Patrick Bayou is a small
out its mission to serve the public by using the best
tidal tributary of the Houston Ship Channel (HSC)
science, taking responsive public health actions, and
that flows through a heavily industrialized area in
providing trusted health information to prevent harm-
Deer Park.
ful exposures and disease related to toxic substances.
The Texas Department of Health (TDH), under
ATSDR provides funding and technical assistance to
available environmental information for the
ments and grants to identify and evaluate environ-
Patrick Bayou site and evaluated the primary
mental health threats to communities. These resources
pathways through which people might possibly
enable state and local health departments and other
grantees to further investigate environmental health
site. These potential exposure pathways include
concerns and to educate communities. From fiscal
years 1988 through 2003, ATSDR awarded more
and air. Available information shows that people
than .2 million--more than
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.4 million in the last
2 years--in direct funds and services to Texas for
therefore, the Patrick Bayou NPL site does not
comprehensive support of its environmental health
pose a public health hazard.
unit. In addition to direct funds and services, ATSDR
staff provides technical and administrative guidance
Kelly Air Force Base (AFB)--ATSDR was
for state-conducted site activities.
petitioned to conduct a health assessment of Kelly
AFB and the neighborhoods north and southeast
ATSDR Site-Specific Activities
of the base. The request was in response to
Public Health Assessment-Related Activities
by the base. In addition to releasing an initial
One of the agency's important mandates is to conduct
summary document, two health consultations, and
a public comment draft of the health assessment,
List (NPL) sites and of other sites where a significant
ATSDR has evaluated several other public
threat to public health might exist. Fifty-two sites
health-related issues for Kelly AFB: on-base
have been designated to the NPL in Texas.
drinking water, on-base exposure to current air
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