Special Initiatives

Partnership projects and initiatives focused on such topics as bioterrorism, children’s health, Great Lakes human health effects, fish consumption advisories, tribal affairs, Alaska traditional diet, scientific review, etc.

Local/State Initiatives
  • Camp Lejeune
    U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina was established in 1942. In 1982, the Marine Corps discovered specific volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the drinking water provided by two of the eight water treatment plants on base.
  • Great Lakes Human Health Effects Research Program
    Investigates the association between the consumption of contaminated Great Lakes fish and short- and long-term harmful health effects.
  • Oak Ridge Reservation
    A US Department of Energy (DOE) facility that was established in Oak Ridge, Tennessee in 1942 as part of the Manhattan Project, the federal government’s World War II effort to build the atomic bomb.
  • TVA Coal Ash Release/Kingstonexternal icon
    On December 22, 2008, the retention wall of a coal ash holding pond failed at the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) facility located in Kingston, Tennessee. The collapse caused more than 5.4 million cubic yards of coal ash, mixed with 327 million gallons of water, to spill into the Emory River and nearby citizens’ yards and homes. The Tennessee Valley Authority coal ash spill has dramatically affected the environment and disrupted citizens’ lives. Several citizens and environmental organizations requested that ATSDR prepare a public health assessment to help people understand if the coal ash could or will cause harm to people’s health. The Tennessee Department of Health, an ATSDR cooperative agreement partner, is writing the public health assessment in collaboration with ATSDR. An announcement will be issued when the draft PHA is available for public comment.

 

National Initiatives
  • Bioterrorism – ATSDR’s Role in the Response to Bioterrorism
    Since the September 11 attacks, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) has worked with other federal agencies, state and local health departments, and other organizations to respond to the enormous challenges of this tragedy.
  • Board of Scientific Counselors
    The Board of Scientific Counselors, NCEH/ATSDR provides advice and guidance to the Secretary, HHS; the Director, CDC; and the Director, NCEH/ATSDR, regarding NCEH and ATSDR program goals, objectives, strategies, and priorities in fulfillment of the agencies’ mission to protect and promote people’s health. The Board provides advice and guidance that assist NCEH and ATSDR staff in ensuring scientific quality, timeliness, utility, and dissemination of results. The Board also provides guidance to help NCEH and ATSDR staff work more efficiently and effectively with its various constituents and to fulfill its mission in protecting America’s health.
  • State Cooperative Agreement Partners
    This is a list of ATSDR’s current state cooperative agreement partners.

 Top of Page

Page last reviewed: September 25, 2015