Agencies Working To Create First-Time Oil Spill Human Health Registry

Federal health agencies are planning to move forward with a first-time registry monitoring the health of people exposed to the BP oil spill, congressional sources say, a move that proponents say could help identify the harmful effects of spilled oil and facilitate needed research on long-term health risks. The agencies have determined they have authority under the Security and Accountability for Every (SAFE) Port Act of 2006, to create the registry because the Superfund law has long barred agencies such as the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) from creating registries aimed at oil