Activities in
GINIA
VIR
Virginia
C
SE
AN
MP
ER TYR
ATSDR in Partnership With
have been desig-
From fiscal years 1988
nated to the NPL
Virginia
through 2003, ATSDR
in Virginia.
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Regis-
awarded more than
A public health
try (ATSDR) is the lead public health agency respon-
0,000 in direct funds
assessment is a
sible for implementing the health-related provisions
and services to Virginia.
written, compre-
of the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
hensive evaluation
Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA).
of available data
ATSDR is an Atlanta-based federal agency with more
and information on the release of hazardous sub-
than 400 employees and an annual budget for 2003 of
stances into the environment in a specific geographic
approximately million. ATSDR is responsible for
area. Such releases are assessed for current or future
assessing the presence and nature of health hazards at
impact on public health. ATSDR, in collaboration
specific Superfund sites, helping to prevent or reduce
with public health and environmental officials from
further exposure and illnesses resulting from those
Virginia, has conducted 38 health assessments in the
hazards, and expanding the knowledge base about the
state, including the following recent examples.
health effects of exposure to hazardous substances.
Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek--ATSDR
ATSDR works closely with state agencies to carry
prepared a health assessment for the Naval
out its mission to serve the public by using the best
Amphibious Base Little Creek in Norfolk and
science, taking responsive public health actions, and
Virginia Beach to evaluate the potential for harm
providing trusted health information to prevent harm-
to human health posed by hazardous substances
ful exposures and disease related to toxic substances.
at the base. Former operations at the base resulted
ATSDR provides funding and technical assistance
in various fuel and chemical releases or spills,
and in 1999, the U.S. Environmental Protection
agreements and grants to identify and evaluate
Agency (EPA) added the base to the NPL. The
environmental health threats to communities. These
base was added to the NPL primarily because of
resources enable state and local health departments
concern about hazardous substances potentially
and other grantees to further investigate environ-
entering surface water and endangering wildlife.
mental health concerns and to educate communi-
ties. From fiscal years 1988 through 2003, ATSDR
primary contaminants of concern to ATSDR are
awarded more than 0,000 in direct funds and
metals, such as lead in surface soil, and mercury
services to Virginia for financial support of specific
and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in fish and
environmental health activities. In addition to direct
crab.
funds and services, ATSDR staff provides technical
The health assessment, released in September
and administrative guidance for state-conducted site
2003, included five conclusions about exposures.
activities.
The site was classified as posing no apparent
ATSDR Site-Specific Activities
soil; for off-site airborne lead or resuspended
Public Health Assessment-Related Activities
lead-contaminated soil or dust; for landfill gases;
One of the agency's important mandates is to conduct
or for consumption of fish, crabs, and shellfish
from Little Creek Harbor. ATSDR also concluded
List (NPL) sites and of other sites where a significant
that it would be prudent for families living in
threat to public health might exist. Thirty-four sites
the Turner Road neighborhood to evaluate their
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