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Health department extending public comment period on Health Studies Plan

Posted: Jan 16, 2013 8:47 PM by KXLF
Updated: Jan 16, 2013 8:52 PM

Butte-Silver Bow Health Department will extend public comment on the Health Studies Plan another 30 days.

The Health Department held a public meeting at the Butte -Silver Bow Public Archives, Wednesday evening. People in attendance said the Health Studies Plan was not accessible online for the first month of the comment period. Comment on the plan will now be taken until February 16th.

Beginning in March the county will update the chemical mass balance study from 2008, according to Dan Powers, interim public health officer for Butte-Silver Bow. The last study tested only for chemicals. This study will look for harmful metals in the air.

Other comments expressed concern with the Atlantic Richfield Company hiring an environmental specialist from the company Environ. This specialist is analyzing blood lead levels in Butte.

"I think that the point was well taken by both EPA and Environ and ARCO, and I think that there will be a broader review of all aspects of this study which should make people in Butte feel much better," said John Jacobson, a citizen of Butte-Silver Bow.

Visit www.buttectec.org to review a draft of the Health Studies Plan and submit your comments online. Comments can also be e-mailed to Dan Powers at dpowers@bsb.mt.gov.