Are you looking for a Camp Lejuene water contamination lawyer? Our law firm can help. The team of lawyers at Estey & Bomberger are representing those who lived or worked at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days between August 1, 1953 and December 31, 1987 and have suffered health issues or death due to toxic water exposure in a class action lawsuit. Historically, federal law prohibited service members from pursuing a claim against the United States government. Due to the extensive damages caused by the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, the United States Congress included the Camp Lejeune Justice Act as part of the Honoring Our PACT Act. Passed by the United States Senate on August 2, 2022, the Honoring Our PACT Act, which includes the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, allows for lawsuits from victims that would otherwise be barred from making a claim.
Diseases and medical conditions that may be caused by exposure to these toxic chemicals include but are not limited to: different types of cancers, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson’s Disease, aplastic anemia, renal toxicity, scleroderma, hepatic steatosis (fatty liver disease), birth defects, birth injuries, male infertility, female infertility, miscarriage, neurobehavioral issues, brain damage, neurologic disorders, and congenital heart disease. If you or a family member has suffered injury, illness, or death caused by exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejuene military base, our team is dedicated to helping you and your loved ones achieve the justice you deserve.
Estey & Bomberger offers 100% free consultations with absolutely no obligation. During your free consultation, our compassionate attorneys will answer all of your questions so you can make an informed decision regarding moving forward with your case. If you do decide to choose our Camp Lejeune lawyers to represent you, you will never pay a fee unless we win and we hate losing. Contact our law firm today to schedule your free consultation and to explore your options regarding becoming part of our class action Camp Lejeune lawsuit.
Index
Click on any of the links listed below for specific information regarding Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuits:
Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA)
North Carolina’s 10-Year Statue of Repose
Who Can File a Camp Lejeune Toxic Water Lawsuit?
The Worst Public Water System Contamination in American History
What Toxic Chemicals Were Detected in the Camp Lejeune Water Supply?
What Caused the Water Contamination at Camp Lejeune?
Military Did Not Initially Respond to Evidence of Water Contamination at Camp Lejeune
How Do I File a Claim for a Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit?
Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA)
In 1946, the United States government passed the Federal Tort Claims Act to provide a legal means for compensating individuals who have suffered personal injury, death, or damages including property loss caused by a negligent or wrongful act or omission of an employee of the federal government. The FTCA generally allows individuals to recover monetary damages from the United States government where the United States, if it were a private person, would be liable in accordance with the law of the place where the negligent or wrong act or omission occurred.
While this would normally mean that someone exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune who suffered harm could bring a lawsuit against the United States government, due to the military base being located in North Carolina, state law complicates matters. This is because North Carolina has a 10-year statue of repose that strictly limits the window an individual has to bring a lawsuit in the state.
North Carolina’s 10-Year Statue of Repose
The conservative nature of North Carolina’s laws means there is a unique statute of repose that severely limits the types of legal actions someone can bring against a defendant. Operating in tandem with statutes of limitation, statutes of repose limit which suits may be brought in the state. North Carolina establishes a three-year statute of limitations for tort claims.
The state of North Carolina also has a statute of repose, providing that, “no cause of action shall accrue more than 10 years from the last act or omission of the defendant giving rise to the cause of action.” The statue of repose differs from the statute of limitations in that it does not permit equitable exceptions and puts an end to any cause of action 10 years after a defendant’s last culpable act.
This means that under North Carolina’s statue of repose, no civil lawsuit can be filed after the 10 year deadline has passed, regardless if the affected party were unaware of any damages caused during that time frame. In 2012, over 850 former residents effected by the contaminated water consolidated into a Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Camp Lejeune class action lawsuit filed in the Eastern District of North Carolina. Their case was dismissed in federal court due to the North Carolina statute of repose.
Due to the extensive damages caused by the water contamination at Camp Lejeune, there are members of Congress that believe that there needs to be a change in the laws. The new legislation in the works is receiving bipartisan support and allows for those who have suffered due to these damages to seek justice for the damages they have endured due to the contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune.
Honoring Our PACT Act
Because of the rising number of cases of active military military personnel and veterans experiencing adverse health effects due to toxic chemical exposure, the United States Senate passed the Honoring Our PACT Act on August 2, 2022, to better serve the medical needs to these individuals. This bill not only expands the eligibility of health care to veterans whose wellbeing has been impacted by toxic substances, it also redefines the toxic exposure presumption process in order to improve the establishment of service connection process for toxic-exposed veterans.
The bill received overwhelming bipartisan support in the United States Congress, and a passed by an overwhelming majority in both the House (342-88) and the Senate (86-11). The Honoring Our PACT Act addresses health care, presumption of service-connection, research, resources, and other matters related to veterans who were exposed to toxic materials during their military service. It also provides eligibility for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical care to veterans who served in specified locations on specified dates, were deployed in support of a specified contingency operation, or participated in a toxic exposure risk activity. Furthermore, the Honoring Our PACT Act establishes the Formal Advisory Committee on Toxic Exposure to assist with the various procedures in establishing or removing presumptions of service-connection.
The Honoring Our PACT Act modifies or establishes the presumption of service-connection for certain conditions or purposes for various groups of veterans. Among other requirements, the Honoring Our PACT Act states that the VA must provide a veteran with a medical examination regarding the nexus between a disability and toil exposure risk activity if a veteran submits a disability compensation claim for a service-connected disability connected to their service with insufficient evidence. It also requires the VA to incorporate a clinical questionnaire to help determine potential toxic exposures as part of the initial screening conducted for veterans with a VA primary care provider.
Camp Lejeune Justice Act
The unprecedented scope of the damage caused by the contaminated water found at Camp Lejeune effected not only the health of service members, but their families, and civilian workers on the military base as well. Introduced in the United States House of Representatives on March 26, 2021, the Camp Lejeune Justice Act aims to implement a major shift in the way the United States government approaches the claims of those who were exposed to the toxic chemicals found in the drinking water on the military base from 1953 to 1987.
Passed by the United States Senate as part of the Honoring Our PACT Act on August 2, 2022, the Camp Lejeune Justice Act allows individuals who were exposed to contaminated water between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987, for at least 30 days to sue and recover damages for harm caused to their health. Additionally, the bill prohibits the United States government from asserting specified immunity from litigation in response to such a lawsuit.
With the United States Congress passing the Camp Lejeune Justice Act as part of the Honoring Our PACT Act, veterans, family members (including those exposed in utero), and workers who experienced harm from exposure to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune now have the ability to seek recovery for the damages they have suffered.
Who Can File a Camp Lejeune Contaminated Water Lawsuit?
Anyone who worked or lived at Camp Lejeune for 30 days or more in the 34 year span from August 1, 1953 to December 31, 1987 may qualify for a Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit. This includes military service members, their families, and civilian employees who may now live anywhere in the greater 50 states. To learn more about whether you or a family member can file a Camp Lejeune water lawsuit, contact our water contamination lawyers today. We can help you understand your options during a free, no obligation case evaluation.
Our team proudly advocates for the rights of Camp Lejeune water contamination victims. We will listen to your concerns and can answer any questions you may have regarding your case during your free, no obligation consultation. If you believe that you or a family member qualifies for a Camp Lejeune lawsuit, contact us today to learn more about the process involved with securing financial compensation from the United States government.
The Worst Public Water System Contamination in American History
Located outside of Jacksonville in Onslow County, North Carolina, Camp Lejeune is a Marine Corps base and operational training facility that occupies a total area of approximately 250 square miles. Contaminated water was discovered in the early 1980s when the Marine Corps performed tests on the primary water treatment plants that provided water to Camp Lejuene. The tests revealed that two of these water treatment installations contained dangerously high levels of more than 70 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that were known to be toxic.
Further testing determined that water supplied to Camp Lejeune from these treatment plants – specifically Hadnot Point and Tarawa Terrace – had been contaminated since the 1950s. Areas served by these water-distribution plants include the Mainside barracks, Hospital Point family housing, family housing at Midway Park, Tarawa Terrace family housing, Knox trailer park, Paradise Point, and Berkeley Manor. Contaminate levels of these toxic chemicals from 1953 to 1987 far exceeded the levels allowed by regulatory safety standards.
The number of people exposed to toxic chemicals from the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune over this 34 year period is staggering. The most recent estimates by the United States government indicate that as many as 1,000,000 people who worked or lived on the base were exposed to toxic substances due to contaminated water.
What Toxic Chemicals Were Detected in the Camp Lejeune Water Supply?
The VOCs discovered in the contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune likely increased the risk of a number of different cancers, birth defects, and other adverse health effects to anyone living or working on the base from 1953 to 1987 including infants and children, Marines and Naval personnel, and civilian employees. According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a federal public health agency within the United States Department of Health and Human Agency, the contaminants found in the drinking water at Camp Lejeune included:
Trichloroethylene (TCE)
TCE is a volatile, colorless liquid organic compound, created by chemical synthesis. Trichloroethylene does not occur in nature. The primary use for TCE is a degreasing solvent for metal parts and equipment as well as to make hydrofluorocarbons such as refrigerants. It can also be used as a spot remover in commercial dry cleaning. Prolonged exposure to TCE is known to cause kidney cancer and some evidence suggests that it may be associated with an increased risk of Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and possibly liver cancer.
Perchloroethylene or Tetrachloroethylene (PCE)
PCE is a colorless, volatile, nonflammable liquid chlorinated hydrocarbon with a mild chloroform-like odor. Perchloroethylene is used in many industries. Common uses of PCE include dry cleaning fabrics, the manufacture other chemicals, and to degrease metal parts. PCE is reasonably anticipated to be a carcinogen and may be linked to an increased risk of colon, esophageal, lung, skin and urogenital tract cancer. It may also be linked to lymphosarcoma and leukemia.
Trans-1,2-dichloroethylene (DCE)
A volatile organic compound also called 1,2-dichloroethene, DCE is a highly flammable colorless liquid with a harsh, sharp odor. DCE is commonly used as an intermediate in chemical product manufacturing and as a solvent for cleaning and degreasing. Designated as a high priority chemical in December 2019 by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), DCE is currently undergoing risk evaluation. Long-term human health effects are not known, but breathing high levels of DCE vapor can be lethal.
Vinyl Chloride
Also known as chloroethene, chloroethylene, ethylene monochloride, or monochloroethylene, at room temperature vinyl chloride is a colorless gas that burns easily and has a mild, sweet odor. A manufactured substance that does not occur naturally, vinyl chloride is generally used to produce polyvinyl chloride (PVC). It is also used to produce a variety of plastic products including wire and cable coatings, packaging materials, pipes, and as a combustion product in tobacco. Vinyl chloride exposure is associated with an increased risk of brain and lung cancers, lymphoma, leukemia, and a rare form of liver cancer called hepatic angiosarcoma.
Benzene
A colorless, flammable liquid with a sweet odor, benzene evaporates quickly when exposed to air. A natural occurring chemical formed in volcanoes and forest fires, benzene is among the 20 most widely used chemicals in the United States. Historically used as an industrial solvent and gasoline additive, benzene is a starting material in making other chemicals including detergents, drugs, dyes, lubricants, pesticides, and rubbers. As a natural occurring chemical, benzene is also found in crude oil, gasoline, and cigarette smoke.
Long term exposure to benzene is known to cause a host of negative health effects. It can harm bone marrow in a way that can cause a decrease in red blood cells, which can lead to anemia. It also can affect the immune system, increasing the chance for infection and excessive bleeding.
Benzene is known to cause cancers such as different forms of leukemia, including acute myeloid leukemia (AML), childhood leukemia (particularly AML), as well as acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), and other blood-related cancers such as Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and multiple myeloma.
What Caused the Water Contamination at Camp Lejeune?
Tarawa Terrace Treatment Plant
An off-base dry cleaning service called ABC One-Hour Cleaners was found to be the source of the contaminated water that originated at the Tarawa Terrace treatment plant. The primary contaminate discovered at the Tarawa Terrace water treatment facility was perchloroethylene or tetrachloroethylene (PCE). In February 1985 the maximum PCE level detected in the drinking water was 215 parts per billion (ppb).
The current threshold for PCE found in drinking water is 5 ppb, which means the level of PCE detected was 43 times the highest level considered to be safe for consumption. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) estimates that PCE concentrations exceeded the current United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) maximum contaminant level of 5 ppb in drinking water for 346 months from November 1957 to February 1987.
Hadnot Point Treatment Plant
Multiple sources including leaking underground storage tanks, industrial spills in the area, and nearby waste disposal sites contaminated the supply wells for the Hadnot Point water treatment facility. The drinking water from the Hadnot Point plant was primarily contaminated by trichloroethylene (TCE), but also contained PCE, benzene, TCE degradation products Trans-1,2-dichloroethylene, and vinyl chloride. In May 1982 the maximum TCE level detected in the drinking water was 1,400 ppb.
Like the threshold for PCE, the current limit for TCE in drinking water is 5 ppb. In other words, the level of TCE found in the drinking water at Camp Lejeune was 280 times the maximum safety threshold for TCE. ATSDR modeling simulations of past exposure levels indicate that at least one VOC found in the drinking water from the Hadnot Point treatment plant exceeded the current EPA maximum contaminant level in drinking water from August 1953 to January 1985.
What Negative Heath Effects are Linked with Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) Found in Contaminated Water at Camp Lejeune?
The effect of the VOCs found in the contaminated Camp Lejeune water between 1953 and 1987 can depend on a number of factors, including:
- When the exposure occurred, such as during pregnancy, infancy, adolescence, or as an adult.
- The amount of VOCs someone was exposed to.
- How long an individual was exposed to the VOCs.
- How someone was exposed to VOCs. Were the VOCs breathed in the air or ingested through drinking water.
- Someone’s personal traits, genetics, and habits.
As a part of the investigation into the health effects of the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry has released a document titled, “ATSDR Assessment of the Evidence for the Drinking Water Contaminants at Camp Lejeune and Specific Cancers and Other Diseases”. This in depth report evaluates 16 diseases and combines the findings from the ATSDR’s Camp Lejeune studies to other populations exposed to trichloroethylene (TCE), perchloroethylene or tetrachloroethylene (PCE), TCE degradation products trans-1,2-dichloroethylene, vinyl chloride, and benzene.
Negative Heath Effects with Sufficient Evidence for Causation from Contaminated Water at Camp Lejeune
There is sufficient evidence for causation of negative health effects in people exposed environmentally or occupationally to the dangerous chemicals detected in the drinking water at Camp Lejeune. The threshold to which evidence is considered sufficient for causation include:
- Sufficient evidence from studies with human subjects in which chance and biases – including confounding – can be ruled out with reasonable confidence.
- Less than sufficient evidence from studies with human subjects but sufficient evidence in animal studies and strong evidence that the chemical acts through a relevant mechanism in humans.
Trichloroethylene (TCE) Exposure
- Kidney cancer
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Cardiac defects
Tetrachloroethylene (PCE) Exposure
- Bladder cancer
Benzene Exposure
- Leukemias
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Vinyl Chloride Exposure
- Liver cancer
Negative Heath Effects with Sufficient Evidence that is Equipoise and Above for Causation at Camp Lejeune
There are negative health effects that fall outside of the scope of having sufficient evidence for causation from the chemicals found in the toxic drinking water at Camp Lejeune from 1953 to 1987. In such cases, there is evidence that is sufficient to conclude that a causal relationship is at least as likely as not, but not sufficient to conclude that a causal relationship exists – known as “equipoise and above” – in people who were exposed either environmentally or occupationally to the chemicals found in the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune during the period in question.
Trichloroethylene (TCE) Exposure
- Leukemia
- Liver cancer
- Multiple myeloma
- End-stage renal disease
- Parkinson disease
- Scleroderma
Tetrachloroethylene (PCE) Exposure
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- End-stage renal disease
Benzene Exposure
- Multiple myeloma
Negative Health Effects with Positive Associations in at Least One Study that Evaluated Exposure to Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) Found in Contaminated Water at Camp Lejeune
In addition to the studies that prove with sufficient evidence and evidence that is equipoise and above for causation for the toxic chemicals found in the water supply at Camp Lejeune from 1953 to 1987, there are also links based on studies with positive associations between the exposure of these chemicals and the development of negative health effects.
Trichloroethylene (TCE) and/or Tetrachloroethylene (PCE) Exposure
- Chonal atresia which is characterized by nasal passages blocked with bone or tissue.
- Eye defects
- Low birth weight
- Fetal death
- Major malformations
- Miscarriage
- Neural tube defects (NTDs)
- Oral cleft defects (including cleft lip)
- Small for gestational age
- Breast cancer
- Cervical cancer
- Esophageal cancer
- Lung cancer
- Hodgkin’s disease
- Ovarian cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Rectal cancer
- Impaired immune system function
- Neurological effects including delayed reaction times as well as problems with short-term memory, visual perception, attention, and color vision.
- Neurobehavioral performance deficits including delayed recall and deficits in visual perception, decreased blink reflex, and mood effects such as confusion, depression, and tension.
- Severe, generalized hypersensitivity skin disorder, an autoimmune-related disease.
Benzene Exposure
- Aplastic anemia
- Myelodysplastic syndromes
- Miscarriage
Vinyl Chloride Exposure
- Brain cancer
- Lung cancer
- Soft tissue cancer
- Liver cirrhosis
Pregnant Women Exposed to Contaminated Drinking Water at Camp Lejeune Linked to Birth Defects and Cancer in Children
Results of a study conducted by ATSDR suggests associations between specific birth defects and childhood cancers due to the TCE and benzene found in Camp Lejeune drinking water. ATSDR surveyed the parents of 12,598 children from 1999 to 2002 to identify potential cases of birth defects and childhood cancers that may be linked to the contaminated Camp Lejeune water.
In order to qualify for the survey, a mother needed to reside on Camp Lejeune some time during her pregnancy and her children had to have been born between 1968 and 1985. 76% of recipients participated in the survey and ATSDR made every effort to obtain medical records from health providers to confirm the reported cases of birth defects and cancers. Only confirmed cases were eligible for the ATSDR study.
Based on the results of the ATSDR survey, the study focused on neural tube defects (NTDs) such as spina vivid and anencephaly, cleft lip and cleft palate, and childhood hematopoietic cancers such as leukemia and Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) diagnosed before 20 years of age. The results of the study suggest:
- The effects were observed in children born from 1968 and 1985 whose mothers were exposed to contaminated drinking water while living at Camp Lejeune.
- The risk of an NTD increased with increasing levels of exposure to TCE in pregnant women during the first trimester.
- Investigators saw an association between children born with NTDs and pregnant women exposed to benzine in their first trimester.
Marine Corps and Navy Personnel Exposed to Contaminated Drinking Water at Camp Lejeune Associated with Increased Risk of Mortality
Another study conducted by ATSDR evaluated whether residential exposures of military personnel to contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune increased the risk of mortality from cancers and other chronic diseases. ATSDR evaluated specific causes of death in 154,932 Marines and Navy personnel who served between 1975 and 1985 and were stationed at Camp Lejeune during this time period. The agency also evaluated a group of 154,969 Marines and Navy personnel from Camp Pendleton as a comparison.
Information on the cause of death data for the two cohorts was obtained from the National Center for Health Statistics National Death Index (NDI) for the years 1979 to 2008. All underlying causes of death that other studies have shown associated with one or more of the chemicals found in the Camp Lejeune drinking water were included in the analysis. Reviews conducted by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National Toxicology Program (NTP), the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), and ATSDR were used to select the causes of death in the study.
Causes of death for military personnel exposed to contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune examined during the study include:
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- Female breast, kidney, larynx, bladder, brain, cervix, colon, esophagus, liver, lung, oral cavity, pancreas, prostate, rectum, and soft tissue cancers
- Hematopoietic cancers including Hodgkin’s lymphoma, leukemia, multiple myeloma, and Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Non-cancerous kidney diseases
- Non-cancerous liver diseases
- Multiple sclerosis
The study also included cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and stomach cancer. These three causes of death are known to be caused by cigarette smoking but are not known to be associated with the contaminants found in the drinking water at Camp Lejeune. ASTDR did not have information on the smoking status for subjects in either cohort, so these causes of death were included to evaluate the possible impact of smoking on the findings.
Key results of the study showed that compared to service members stationed at Camp Pendleton, the Camp Lejeune group had higher mortality rates for causes of death including:
- Cervix, esophagus, kidney, liver, lung, pancreas, prostate, rectum, and soft tissue cancers
- Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Leukemias
- Multiple myeloma
- Multiple sclerosis
While an important contribution to the body of evidence about the harm caused by exposure to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, this study does not provide definitive evidence for causality.
Civilian Employees Exposed to Contaminated Drinking Water at Camp Lejeune Associated with Elevated Risk of Mortality
Similar to the study regarding the cause of death for military service members stationed at Camp Lejeune, ATSDR conducted a study evaluating whether potential exposure to the contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune is associated with an increased risk of death from cancers and other chronic diseases among civilian employees on the base. Contaminates included in the study regarding civilian employees included benzene, PCE, TCE, vinyl chloride, and 1,2-dichloroethylene.
Like the study on military personnel, ATSDR utilized two cohort groups of civilian employees. The Camp Lejeune group consisted of 4,647 full-time workers employed on base during a time frame that spanned 1973 to 1985. Camp Pendleton was again used for the second group and included 4,690 full-time workers employed on the base in Oceanside, CA during the same 1973 to 1985 time period but were not employed at Camp Lejeune.
Cause of death data from 1979 to 2008 was obtained from the NDI for the two cohorts. The underlying causes of death shown by other studies to be associated with one or more of the chemicals found in the contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune were used in the analysis. Causes of death for the study were selected based on reviews conducted by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National Toxicology Program (NTP), the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), and ATSDR.
Causes of death for civilian employees exposed to contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune examined during the study include:
- Hematopoietic cancers including Hodgkin’s lymphoma, leukemia, multiple myeloma, and Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Cancers of the larynx, liver, lung, oral cavity, pancreas, bladder, brain, cervix, colon, esophagus, female breast, kidney, prostate, rectum, and soft tissue.
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- Non-cancerous kidney diseases
- Non-cancerous liver diseases
- Multiple sclerosis
The study on civilian employees also included cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and stomach cancer. Known to be caused by cigarette smoking, these three causes of death are not known to be associated with the contaminants found in the drinking water at Camp Lejeune. These causes of death were included to evaluate the possible impact of smoking on the study as ASTDR did not have information on the smoking status for subjects in either cohort.
Key results of the study showed that compared to full-time employees who worked at Camp Pendleton, the Camp Lejeune group had higher mortality rates for causes of death including:
- Cancers of the oral cavity, prostate, female breast, kidney, lung, and rectum
- Kidney diseases
- Leukemias
- Multiple myeloma
- Parkinson’s disease
While the analysis found elevated risks in the Camp Lejeune civilian workers for several causes of death, including kidney cancer, leukemia’s, prostate cancer, rectal cancer and Parkinson’s disease, of the Camp Lejeune group, only 14% had died by the end of the study. Because the number of cause-specific deaths were small, uncertainty remains regarding the actual risk to civilian employees who worked at Camp Lejeune.
Military Did Not Initially Respond to Evidence of Water Contamination at Camp Lejeune
In 1980, new EPA Safe Drinking Water regulations required the United States government perform testing on military bases to ensure the water provided to service members, their families, and general civilian personnel was safe for consumption. The United States Army Environmental Hygiene Agency (USAEHA) laboratory at Ft. McPherson was tasked with analyzing the base’s tap water for trihalomethane (TTHM) contamination as part of the EPA Safe Drinking Water regulations. While conducting analysis on the tap water taken from Hadnot Point, the USAEHA lab found interferences which inhibited the laboratory’s ability to quantify the level of TTHM caused by chlorinated hydrocarbons.
The USAEHA lab supervisor documented these findings and advised that the base needed to conduct further testing in order to identify the compounds contaminating the water in a report to Navy and Marine Corps officials received on October 31, 1980. Three more warnings were sent by the Army lab between December 1980 and March 1981. No documented action was taken by Navy or Marine Corps officials to identify the source of the contamination between October 1980 and December 1981.
The Marine Corps contracted Grainger Laboratories to perform comprehensive testing on the Camp Lejeune water supply infrastructure in 1982. The report submitted to base command confirmed that specific water supply wells were contaminated with high levels of TCE and PCE. Despite the fact that scientists with Grainger met with the deputy director of base utilities at Camp Lejeune to warn him about the dangerous water contamination, no action was taken.
In August of 1982, a different chemist with Grainger sent a letter to Marine Maj. General D.J. Fulham, base commander at Camp Lejeuene, advocating that the water supply wells were “poisoned”. Additional warnings were provided to Marine Corps Officials by Grainger in December 1982, March 1983, and September 1983 regarding the contaminated water. Again, no action was taken by the Marine Corps.
A report was submitted to the EPA by Marine Corps officials at Camp Lejeune in April 1983 falsely claiming that the base had no environmental contamination issues. The administration responsible for North Carolina’s water supply requested the Marine Corps disclose Grainger’s water testing reports for Camp Lejeune in June 1983. The USMC refused the request for the testing reports. In December 1983, the Marine Corps scaled down the level of water testing being conducted by Grainger at Camp Lejeune.
A new laboratory was contracted to test the water at Camp Lejeune as part of the EPA program in July 1984. This round of testing revealed that the water at Camp Lejeune was contaminated with dangerous levels of PCE, TCE, and benzene. This was the point where the Marine Corps agreed to begin shutting the contaminated water wells down. While the Marine Corps did notify North Carolina officials about the water contamination in December 1984, the discovery of benzene in addition to PCE and TCE was withheld.
Are You Ready to File a Claim for a Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit?
If you or a loved one lived or worked on Camp Lejeune for more than 30 days between August 1, 1953 and December 31, 1987, and have suffered health issues or death due to exposure to contaminated water on the base, you may qualify for financial compensation from the United States government. To get started on filing a claim, you can contact the team of Camp Lejeune water contamination lawyers at Estey & Bomberger today to schedule a free consultation.
During your no obligation case review, one of our attorneys will review all of your options with you and explain the process involved with filing a Camp Lejeune lawsuit. We are a law firm dedicated to advocating for the rights of military service members and their families. Our top priority is to provide anyone whose lives have been affected by the drinking water contamination on Camp Lejeune the just compensation they deserve.
You may be wondering what kind of settlement amounts you may be entitled to, but unfortunately it is still too early in the process to give a definitive answer regarding a Camp Lejeune water contamination settlement. That being said, our nationally recognized law firm has a history of securing record setting settlements for our clients. We never collect a fee unless we win and we hate losing. Our near perfect record of success proves our dedication to our clients.
If you are ready to learn more about filing a Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit, we are here to help you reach an informed decision regarding moving forward with your claim. Contact us now to get started.