MEDIA ADVISORY

Mayor: Jennifer P. Dougherty

CONTACT: Nancy Gregg Poss, Public Information Officer, 301-360-3842

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, August 14, 2003

TEST RESULTS CONCLUDE NO CONTAMINANTS FOUND IN POND IN CITY OF FREDERICK'S MUNICIPAL FOREST

Frederick, Md. - The Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has released the results from tests conducted on water samples taken on Monday evening from a pond in the City of Frederick's Municipal Forest. Those test results are negative of any types of bacteria or levels of bacteria that would cause a concern. There was and is no public health threat.

The pond was temporarily under the orders of Dr. James Bowes, Frederick County Health Officer, on Tuesday after the Frederick County Health Department learned that a rescue dog and its handler may have became ill shortly after conducting a drill a pond in the watershed. Today the pond has been reopened with no restrictions.

Mayor Dougherty was personally informed of the test results earlier today. "We are relieved that these results are negative," she stated. "The health department has concluded that cause of illness to the handler and its dog were not related to the pond in question."

The Mayor also stated that she was pleased with how this process worked and credited good communications from all parties involved.