ATSDR to hold community meeting on Gorham site findings

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.

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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