Skip directly to: content | left navigation | search
  1. ATSDR > Public Health Assessments & Consultations

PUBLIC HEALTH ASSESSMENT

CHERRY POINT MARINE CORPS AIR STATION
CHERRY POINT, CRAVEN COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA




CONCLUSIONS
  1. The current use of the 32 IRP sites do not present public health hazards. If requested, ATSDR will review proposed land use changes for IRP sites and make recommendations on how to prevent exposures should future land use changes pose public health hazards.

  2. There is no current exposure to contaminated groundwater. Thus, groundwater poses no public health hazard at MCAS Cherry Point.

  3. Consumption of fish from Slocum Creek poses no apparent public health hazard. Also, fish from Hancock Creek should be safe to consume.

  4. In accordance with the shellfish advisory based on bacterial contamination, shellfish (mussels, clams, and oysters) should not be consumed.

RECOMMENDATIONS

The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) of 1980, as amended, requires ATSDR to perform public health actions needed at hazardous waste sites. To determine if public health actions are needed, ATSDR's Health Activities Recommendation Panel (HARP) has evaluated the data and information in the MCAS Cherry Point Public Health Assessment. No follow up health activities are recommended for MCAS Cherry Point because there is no known exposure at this site.

On-going and planned remediation at the station is designed to prevent future exposures. If land use changes, we recommend that the likelihood of exposure be re-evaluated by the air station, North Carolina Department of Environment, Health and Natural Resources, EPA, or ATSDR.

AUTHORS

Victoria Ann Smith
Environmental Health Scientist
Defense Facilities Assessment Section
Federal Facilities Assessment Branch
Division of Health Assessment and Consultation

Reviewer:

Diane Jackson
Chief, Defense Facilities Assessment Section
Federal Facilities Assessment Branch
Division of Health Assessment and Consultation

REFERENCES
  1. Halliburton NUS Corporation. Community Relations Plan for Marine Corps Air Station, Cherry Point, North Carolina. June 1995.

  2. ATSDR site visit notes and observations. MCAS Cherry Point. August 14-16, 1995.

  3. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. National Priorities List fact sheet on Cherry Point Marine corps Air Station. August 1994.

  4. USGS. Water Resources Investigation Report 89-4200. 1990.

  5. Fleming, JW, and Hightower, JE. A Biological Evaluation of Metal Contamination in Slocum Creek, North Carolina. Final Report. May 1995.

Next Section           Table of Contents


Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 1825 Century Blvd, Atlanta, GA 30345
Contact CDC: 800-232-4636 / TTY: 888-232-6348 
USA.gov: The U.S. Government's Official Web Portal
DHHS
Department of Health and Human Services