Members were selected based upon their knowledge of the community and labor concerns and their ability to offer diverse community viewpoints and interests. Members are representative of the community affected by the Fernald Site. CDC is the agency, which has lead responsibility for FHES activities at DOE's Fernald Site. Meetings are held approximately 4 times per year in the Fernald area.
Meetings are open to the public.
All meeting proceedings are recorded as required by applicable laws and regulations. The Department of Health and Human Services and the DOE have two Memoranda of Understanding for public health activities and research at DOE sites. Empowered by these Memoranda, these agencies work to assess the subsequent health effects from past and current exposures resulting from hazardous releases and unsafe working conditions at federal government Cold War-era nuclear weapons production facilities. CDC NCEH was established in 1980 to provide practical and constructive environmental public health research and support to communities and public health providers. In addition to the Fernald health research projects, CDC NCEH's Radiation Studies Branch is evaluating possible public health impacts due to past DOE facility operations throughout the U.S. nuclear weapons complex.