EPA Releases Draft Human Health Risk Assessment of Northport

EPA has released its draft Human Health Risk Assessment (HHRA) for public comment. This HHRA was conducted as part of the ongoing remedial investigation and feasibility study (RI/FS) in response to concerns regarding historical discharges of hazardous substances into the Columbia River as a result of smelting processes and facility operations by Teck Resources

Northport residents have the opportunity, as one of the communities most affected by Teck smelter discharges into the air and water, to provide comments on the Human Health Risk Assessment. This document estimates the nature and probability of adverse health effects in humans who may be exposed to chemicals in contaminated environmental media, now or in the future.

To help prepare you for making comments, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will be holding two identical webinars, on June 10 and July 15, both starting at 5:30 pm to give as many people as possible a chance to learn more about the HHRA directly from the EPA. If you wish to attend the webinars, please preregister at:

www.eventbrite.com/e/epa-upper-columbia-river-webinars-tickets-105584696670

The draft Human Health Risk Assessment is available on EPA’s website:

www.epa.gov/columbiariver/upper-columbia-river-remedial-investigation-feasibility-study

Comments must be received by July 24^th. If you have questions about the assessment and cannot attend a webinar please contact Robert Tan at: (206) 553-2580. Also, feel free to email me if needed; best address is smithm69@msu.edu.