Public Meeting to be Held for the Illinois Beach State Park Health Assessment

Friday, May 08, 2009

ATSDR Media Announcement

Public Meeting to be Held for the Illinois Beach State Park Health Assessment

For Immediate Release: May 8, 2009

Community members interested in the investigation of asbestos at Adeline Jay Geo-Karis Illinois Beach State Park will have an opportunity to learn more at two community availability sessions at the park on Thursday, May 14.

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry published a health consultation of the site in March after extensive Environmental Protection Agency testing of potential exposure to asbestos-containing material at the beach. Air samples were collected while investigators simulated common beach activities, such as playing volleyball, running, sunbathing and sandcastle building to determine the levels of potential exposure. Asbestos levels were below detection in most samples. The report concludes that asbestos-containing material does not present a health hazard to people using the beach for recreational purposes.

The public availability sessions will be from 3 to 5 p.m. and 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Sessions will be held at the Illinois Beach Resort & Conference Center, One Lake Front Drive, Zion, IL, 60099. Representatives from other federal and state agencies will also be on hand to present findings and respond to questions.

ATSDR is accepting public comments on the health consultation until June 12. The public comment period was extended from May 11 to allow people to provide their comments after attending the public session.

Interested people may find the health consultation online at http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/sites/illinois_beach_state_park/. A copy of the health consultation is also available at the following location:

Zion-Benton Public Library
2400 Gabriel Ave.
Zion, IL 6009
847-872-4680

Comments on the health consultation must be made in writing. Comments received during the public comment period will be logged into the ATSDR administrative record for the health consultation and will appear in the final health consultation.

Mail comments to:

Records Center, ATSDR
ATTN: Illinois Beach State Park
1600 Clifton Road, N.E. MS F-09
Atlanta, GA 30333

For more information, community members may contact:

• Mark Johnson, ATSDR Region 5 Office- Chicago; 312-886-0840
  
• Januett Smith-George, ATSDR Health Promotion and Community Involvement Branch at hpcib@cdc.gov or: 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636)

Media inquiries: 770-488-0700.

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ATSDR, a federal public health agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, evaluates the human health effects of exposure to hazardous substances.

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