[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 180 (Wednesday, September 17, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48869-48870]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-24637]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
Expert Workshop Regarding Medical Monitoring in Bunker Hill, ID;
Meeting
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)
announces the following meeting.
Name: Expert Workshop Regarding Medical Monitoring in Bunker
Hill, ID.
Times and Dates: 8 a.m.-5 p.m., September 23-24, 1997.
Place: The D. Abbott Turner Center at Emory University, 703
Clifton Road, NE, Atlanta, GA 30329, telephone 404/712-6725.
Status: Open to the public, limited only by the space available.
The meeting room accommodates approximately 100 people.
Purpose: ATSDR is considering the appropriateness of medical
monitoring for populations who lived around the former Bunker Hill
lead smelting facility (the Bunker Hill Superfund Site) in the
Silver Valley area of Idaho during a time of excess exposures of
public health significance. As Page 2 part of this consideration
process, ATSDR is convening a series of workshops to examine the
appropriateness and feasibility of a medical monitoring program.
The purpose of the medical monitoring program is to provide a
public health service to communities affected by exposures to
hazardous substances. This is accomplished by screening target
populations at significant risk of a specific health effect or
outcome, identifying individuals in need of further diagnosis or
treatment, and arranging for appropriate referrals.
Section 104(i)(9) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), as amended (42 U.S.C.
9604(i)(9)), provides for the Administrator, ATSDR, to initiate a
health surveillance program for populations at significantly
increased risk of adverse health effects as a result of exposure to
hazardous substances released from a facility. A program included
under health surveillance is referred to as ``medical monitoring or
screening'' by ATSDR and is defined in the legislation as ``the
periodic medical testing to screen people at significant increased
risk for disease.''
ATSDR has established criteria to determine when medical
monitoring is an appropriate health activity and the requirements
for establishing a medical monitoring program at a site. The
legislation requires that a mechanism to refer people for treatment
be included in the program. The statute does not authorize ATSDR to
provide medical treatment; thus, medical monitoring is performed as
a community service, not a health study.
ATSDR is convening three expert workshops to assist in the
evaluation of a medical monitoring program at the Bunker Hill site.
If a program is deemed appropriate, the Agency will develop a
medical monitoring plan for the target population(s). The first
workshop, was held on August 19-20, 1997. This notice announces the
second workshop.
Matters to be Considered: The objective of this workshop is to
use all available relevant data from ATSDR, including that produced
by the first workshop, to make individual recommendations and answer
questions related to:
(1) The analysis of specific outcomes as candidates for
monitoring from the first workshop, (2) further definition of the
target populations from the first workshop, (3) the consideration of
other heavy metals exposures as moderators of lead-based medical
monitoring recommendations, and
[[Page 48870]]
(4) medical decision analysis related to the Bunker Hill site.
Scientists with expertise specific to the health outcomes under
consideration will convene to define appropriate screening tests to
be included in the medical monitoring program based on the proposed
outcomes and eligible populations. Also, the workshop will provide
ATSDR guidance in the development of clinical evaluation protocols
that could be included in a medical monitoring program.
Agenda items are subject to change as priorities dictate.
Contact Person for More Information: Vivian Rush, M.D., Medical
Officer, ATSDR, Division of Health Education and Promotion, 1600
Clifton Road, NE, M/S E-33, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, telephone 404/
639-5080 or Gregory Thomas, Senior Regional Representative, ATSDR
Region X, Seattle, WA 98101, telephone 206/553-2113.
Dated: September 11, 1997.
Carolyn J. Russell,
Director, Management Analysis and Services Office, Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC).
[FR Doc. 97-24637 Filed 9-16-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-70-P
