What is ATSDR’s Petition Program?

In the Superfund law, Congress provided ATSDR with the authority to conduct certain public health assessment activities following a request from a concerned person. The ATSDR Petition Program identifies whether the request is one that ATSDR can address.

What are “public health assessment activities”?

Public health assessment activities are evaluations of environmental data and information about a community. ATSDR conducts public health assessment activities to determine whether a community is exposed to environmental contaminants from a hazardous waste site or facility at levels that could harm human health. If the evaluation concludes that people are exposed to environmental contaminants released from the site, ATSDR then evaluates whether the exposure is harmful or potentially harmful, and whether it should be stopped or reduced.

The evaluations are based on available environmental sampling data typically gathered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) or a state environmental regulatory agency.

What type of “public health assessment activity” can ATSDR conduct in response to a petition request?

In response to a petition request, ATSDR may conduct a public health consultation. This is an evaluation of available environmental data to determine whether residents have been, or are currently exposed to environmental contaminants released from a hazardous waste site or facility. If the evaluation concludes that people are exposed to environmental contaminants released from the site, ATSDR then evaluates whether the exposure is harmful or potentially harmful, and whether steps should be taken to stop or reduce that exposure.

A public health consultation is based on the available environmental monitoring data typically gathered by U.S. EPA or a state environmental regulatory agency. The amount and type of environmental monitoring data available from U.S. EPA and a state environmental regulatory agency will influence whether ATSDR can conduct a public health consultation that addresses a petitioner’s request.

What information can a “public health consultation” provide?

If sufficient information is available, a public health consultation can describe whether the community is exposed to environmental contaminants released at a hazardous waste site or facility. A public health consultation can also determine whether the exposure is harmful, or potentially harmful, and whether ATSDR should take steps to stop or reduce that exposure.

A public health consultation cannot evaluate the community’s combined exposure to environmental contaminants released from two or more hazardous waste sites or facilities.

And a public health consultation cannot determine the cause of disease that afflicts an individual or a community, or determine the cause of an apparent increase in a particular disease within a community.

Who can petition ATSDR?

Anyone can petition ATSDR to request a public health consultation regarding a hazardous waste site or facility.

Find out how to petition to ATSDR here