Little Rock—The Arkansas Department of Health will conduct a public availability session in Stamps, Arkansas, on November 2, 2000 to discuss health concerns of the residents of the Pride Addition. The meeting will be held at Greenville Missionary Baptist Church, 234 W. First St., from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Members of the community who feel they are experiencing health effects associated with the Red River Aluminum site are asked to attend.  Representatives from the Environmental Protection Agency Region 6 will be present.

The public availability session is part of an ongoing investigating initiated in early July by the Health Department at the Red River Aluminum site.  The ADH has examined site data from the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Environmental Quality.  There do not appear to be any adverse health risks associated with the site for area residents.  However, the investigation is still in its preliminary stages.

Water samples from homes adjacent to Red River Aluminum have already been collected.  These are in the process of being analyzed for inorganic contaminants.

Plans are being put into place for the collection of composite soil samples from each back yard and a sample from each side yard of resident homes near the site by the EPA.  The ADH will use the EPA sample results to evaluate potential health impacts associated with contamination.

Site activities also include air quality monitoring.  This would include monitoring the 9 occupied residences that abut Red River Aluminum.  There are two unoccupied residences that ADH does not propose to sample since there is no human exposure at this time.  A complete health assessment for air/water/inhalation routes of exposure to contaminants at Red River will be completed. Blood testing will be available for residents in the affected area.  The Department has also met with public officials from the Stamps community.

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