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ATSDR Press Room

ATSDR to hold community meeting on Gorham site findings


Providence County, Providence, Rhode Island

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Representatives from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry will be in Providence this week to discuss the agency’s work looking into health concerns at the Gorham Manufacturing facility site.

The federal agency most recently looked at Parcel C of the site, which was sectioned into four parts. ATSDR did not find enough  available information to determine if chemicals on Parcel C could affect  people’s health. The agency completed an assessment of Parcel B in 2006 and recommended strategies to mitigate exposure concerns, and next plans to look at  Parcels A and D. The site is located on Adelaide Avenue in Providence.

Even though investigations found elevated levels of contaminants in groundwater, soil, and soil vapor beneath Parcel C, most data  collected are at least seven years old, leaving some uncertainties about the  nature and extent of contamination today. Contaminants found at the site include volatile organic compounds, metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and methane. 
 
ATSDR will hold a community meeting on Monday, August 30,  2010 from 7-9 p.m. at the Renaissance Church (behind Popeye’s off Reservoir  Ave.), 77 Reservoir Avenue, Providence, RI, to discuss the findings and its ongoing work at the facility.

Community members are invited to ask questions and talk one-on-one with representatives from ATSDR, the Rhode Island Department of  Environmental Management (RIDEM), the Rhode Island Department of Health, Textron Corporation and the City of Providence. 

Parcel C is an undeveloped 5-acre portion of land in the western part of the Gorham site. The City of Providence owns Parcel C. The YMCA  of Greater Providence holds a long-term lease for Parcel C, but no remediation or construction has occurred on this parcel and there are currently no plans to develop it.

ATSDR recommends identifying contaminant sources to determine the nature and extent of the contamination on Parcel C. When sources are identified, and development  plans determined, ATSDR recommends assessing possible chemical exposure and public health hazards.

The Parcel C report can be found online at http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/HAC/pha/ParcelCakaFormerGorhamSite/ParcelCAKAFormerGorhamSite8-11-09.pdf

The Parcel B report is at http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/HAC/pha/ProvidenceHighSchoolParcelB(Former%20Gorham)/ProvidenceHighSchoolParcelB-HC120406.pdf.

For more information, community members may contact:

  • Tammie McRae, ATSDR Environmental Health Scientist at 770-488-0757 or email her at TMcrae@cdc.gov
  • William  Sweet, ATSDR Senior Regional Representative at 617-918-1490 or email him at WSweet@cdc.gov
  • Joseph Martella, Senior Engineer, RIDEM at 401-222-2797 extension 7109 or email him at mailto:joseph.martella@dem.ri.gov
  • CDC/ATSDR, refer to the Gorham Silver Site, Providence RI. Toll free at 1-800-CDC-INFO or TTY: 888-232-6348

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Related PHA & HC For this Press Release


Parcel C Aka Former Gorham Site
Document Date: 8/11/2009 - HC  [PDF - 1435 KB]

Providence High School Parcel B
-a/k/a Former Gorham Site
Document Date: 12/4/2006 - HC  [PDF - 1190 KB]

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Related News Releases For Providence County, Providence, Rhode Island

 

Scituate Groundwater Sites Public Health Consultation in Rhode Island
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A public health consultation on the Scituate Groundwater sites in Scituate and Johnston, R.I., has been issued by ATSDR. The agency categorizes the site as no apparent public health hazard and will discuss its findings at a meeting on Jan. 26, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

ATSDR Releases Public Health Consultation For The Central Landfill Site
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Release Date: Friday, June 11, 1999
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), announces the release of the Health Consultation for Woonasquatucket River and Centredale Manor.

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