Camp Lejeune is located in Jacksonville, North Carolina, and was established in 1942 as a United States Military training facility. It exists to provide marine training and amphibious assault training, perfectly situated with access to the coast. The Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) New River, which is adjacent to Camp Lejeune, is a helicopter and tilt-rotor base and provides support in combat readiness to the Marine Corps Aviation Combat Element and Department of Defense units. These two bases sit on either side of the New River on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. They were serviced by eight water treatment plants.

In 1982 the Marine Corps discovered that toxins were present in the water from two of the water treatment facilities, Tarawa Terrace and Hadnot Point. The source of the toxins could be traced back to both on-base spills and underground storage leaks, as well as improper disposal of chemicals used at an off-base dry cleaner. These water treatment plants provided water to housing, offices, schools, recreational areas, and the base hospital.

There were four major water contaminants identified: trichloroethylene (TCE), perchloroethylene (PCE), benzene, and vinyl chloride. TCE and PCE are both volatile organic compounds and are used as solvents, to clean machine parts, and in dry cleaning. Benzene is used as a component in other chemicals in the manufacturing of nylon, plastics, and some detergents and pesticides. Vinyl chloride is a component of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which is used to make pipes and packing materials.

The on-base wells contaminated with these toxins were closed in February 1985, though the Agency for Toxic Substances and Diseases estimates that the toxin levels exceeded EPA standards for drinking water starting in approximately November 1957. Thirty years of hazardous drinking water have affected one million people who lived on or visited the base and air station.

If you served at Camp Lejeune or MCAS New River for at least 30 days between August 1953 and December 1987, and were not dishonorably discharged, then you may be eligible for benefits and compensation for illnesses associated with the toxic drinking water.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has compiled a list of presumptive conditions which qualify for disability benefits. If you have any of these conditions, the VA will presume it is linked to the drinking water:

• Adult leukemia
• Aplastic anemia and other myelodysplastic syndromes
• Bladder cancer
• Kidney cancer
• Liver cancer
• Multiple myeloma
• Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
• Parkinson’s disease

However, the list of conditions and diseases that can be associated with exposure to the chemicals listed is much more extensive:

• Brain cancer
• Breast cancer
• Cervical cancer
• Esophageal cancer
• Fetal death
• Impaired immune system
• Low birth weight
• Miscarriage
• Mood effects (i.e. anxiety or depression)
• Multiple myeloma
• Neurological effects (i.e. memory loss, attention)
• Ovarian cancer
• Prostate cancer
• Scleroderma
• Skin disorders
• Soft tissue cancer

In 2021 Congress created a bill called the Honoring Our PACT Act. This bill contains a section called the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, which was signed into law by the President. Any service member, family member, worker, or other personnel who was on the base for at least 30 days and has a condition as a result of the toxins will be able to file a claim.

Now is the time to obtain a legal consultation and prepare to move forward with your claim! Our offices are located in eastern North Carolina, and our team is dedicated to helping those who have suffered the devastating effects of water contamination at Camp Lejeune or MCAS New River. Contact Wayne Hardee Law offices right away for a free consultation and case review. We want to ensure that you are compensated for receiving the treatment you need.