East Coast Oceans Public Meeting to Be Held in Tampa, Florida

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the Department of Interior, will hold an East Coast Oceans Public Meeting on Monday, June 1, 1998, to discuss ocean- related public health and environmental issues. The meeting will be held from 3:00 - 6:00 p.m. at the Florida Aquarium, 701 Channelside Drive, Tampa, Florida.

The meeting will provide all interested persons an opportunity to express concerns about public health issues such as beach closures, shellfish consumption, and fish contamination and ecosystem concerns regarding pollution, fisheries management, and development impacts. Representatives from EPA, NIEHS, DOI, as well as experts in the ecosystem and public health fields will be in attendance. Public input and participation is encouraged to help identify how current efforts can be improved to meet existing and emerging needs to ensure that the nation is prepared to restore and protect the ocean environment.

Reports of the meeting will be available to all participating agencies and to the environment and health panel at the National Ocean Conference that will be held later in June in Monterey, Calif. The Conference is designed to bring together leaders from all ocean sectors to discuss marine and coastal issues. The theme of the Environment and Health Panel is: Maintaining long-term balance in the inter-relationship between terrestrial and coastal/ocean systems in supporting activities, including development, use protection, and conservation of coastal and marine ecosystems.

People interested in obtaining additional information should contact Dr. Sheila Newton of NIEHS at (919) 541-3484 or Mary Jo Bragan of EPA at (404) 562-8323.