Scope of the Review

Scope of the Review

DOH evaluated whether the available scientific and technical information provides an
adequate basis to understand the likelihood and magnitude of risks for adverse public

Scope of the Review

health impacts from HVHF activities in New York State. The evaluation reviewed how
HVHF activities could result in human exposure to: (i) contaminants in air or water;
(ii) naturally occurring radioactive materials that result from HVHF activities; and
(iii) the effects of HVHF operations such as truck traffic, noise, and social changes on
communities. The evaluation also reviewed whether those exposures may result in
adverse public health outcomes.

Public Health Review Process

The initial component of the Public Health Review focused on understanding how public
health concerns were addressed in the draft SGEIS. Three nationally recognized
experts also participated as consultants to the initial phase of the review process. The
expert consultants reviewed elements of the draft SGEIS and documentation developed
by DOH, and provided extensive input through multiple rounds of communication.
As a result of this input, as well as broader consideration, it became clear that DOH’s
Public Health Review needed to extend beyond this initial assessment to consider,
more broadly, the current state of science regarding HVHF and public health risks. This
required an evaluation of the emerging scientific information on environmental public
health and community health effects. This also required an analysis of whether such
information was sufficient to determine the extent of potential public health impact of
HVHF activities in NYS and whether existing mitigation measures implemented in other
states are effectively reducing the risk for adverse public health impacts.

One major component of the Public Health Review was an objective evaluation of the
emerging scientific information on environmental impacts and public health effects of
HVHF activity. Scientific studies reporting relationships between HVHF and public
health outcomes were the main focus of this evaluation, but relevant literature that was
only focused on HVHF and effects on environmental media was also reviewed.
Additional literature was reviewed and considered supplemental to the main Public
Health Review (see Appendix 1). More than 20 DOH senior Research Scientists, Public
Health Specialists, and Radiological Health Specialists contributed to the review under
the direction of former Commissioner Shah and Acting Commissioner Zucker. The
entire Public Health Review process involved more than 4500 hours of combined effort.
In addition to evaluating published scientific literature, former Commissioner Shah,
Acting Commissioner Zucker, and DOH staff held multiple discussions and meetings
with public health and environmental authorities in several states to understand their
experience with HVHF. Former Commissioner Shah, Acting Commissioner Zucker, and
DOH staff, also engaged in a number of discussions and meetings with researchers
from academic institutions and government agencies to learn more about planned and
ongoing studies and assessments of the public health implications of HVHF.