The federal government has done a study of the health impacts of the Gorham site in South Providence, which was rehabilitated into Mashapaug Commons, which now stands mostly vacant, next to a newly built high school, Alvarez High School, which has a system for pumping potential toxic underground fumes away from the school. From Amelia Rose, Director and Lead Organizer, Environmental Justice League of Rhode Island:

Dear Neighbors of the Gorham Manufacturing Site, and friends,

Mark your calendars for an important community meeting coming up in two weeks hosted by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), which is a federal government agency that looks at the health impacts of contaminated sites like Gorham. They just finished a health assessment of part of the site and will be holding a public meeting to discuss the results.

ATSDR Public Meeting
Monday – August 30, 2010
Time: 7-9 PM
Location: Renaissance Church, 77 Reservoir Ave, Providence, RI –behind Popeye’s in the Mashapaug Commons Shopping Plaza

Come to the Public Meeting to:

· Hear about the work ATSDR is doing at the former Gorham Manufacturing Facility Site
· Discuss the results of ATSDR’s Health Consultation for Parcel C
· Talk one-on-one with ATSDR and State and Local representatives from:
o The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM)
o The Rhode Island Department of Health
o Textron Corporation
o City of Providence
· Ask questions about the work ATSDR, State and Local agencies are doing to protect people’s health and recommendations for future development of the Gorham Site

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) is a public health agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. ATSDR works in communities to provide trusted health information to prevent harmful exposures and disease related to toxic substances. ATSDR is located in Atlanta, GA.