[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]


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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