Camp Lejeune Contamination Didn't Happen Overnight.

Congress Authorized Construction of the base.

Hadnot Point Fuel Farm was built consisting of 14 fuel tanks buried in the ground and one 600,000 gallon above-ground tank. It was located just 1,200 feet from potable water well

The year ATSDR estimates Hadnot Point drinking water system was affected by chemicals.

The year ATSDR estimates Tarawa Terrace drinking water system was
affected by chemicals.

Camp Lejeune opened its first toxic waste dump.

Tarawa Terrace housing is constructed and Tarawa Terrace drinking water system began operation.

Camp Lejeune's commanding general, L.H. Buehl, falsely assures residents of a base subdivision that water contaminants are "minute (trace)" when levels were actually dangerously high.

The year ATSDR estimates Hadnot Point drinking water system was affected by chemicals.

ABC One-Hour Dry Cleaners began operating next to Camp Lejeune (a major polluter).

A chemical dump goes into operation but withheld from EPA until 1976.

The year ATSDR estimates Tarawa Terrace drinking water system was affected by chemicals.

Aware of contamination, Marine Corps says contaminants unregulated, however their own regulations about chemical waste are ignored. 

EPA calls Lejeune a "major polluter."

Other bases close contaminated wells.

Executive Order directs federal agencies to enhance environmental safety.

The contaminated Hadnot Point system is used to supply water to the base hospital, housing, and industrial areas.

Records show the Marines dumped oil and industrial wastewater in storm drains. 

Potentially radioactive materials were buried, including carcasses of dogs used in testing. 

The camp located a daycare in a former malaria control shop where pesticides were mixed and stored.

Base orders designate organic solvents as hazardous.

Congress enacts Safe Water Act.

Marine Corps regulations outlines proper disposal of organic solvents.

The Love Canal tragedy created an awareness of potential water contamination issues.

Persistent leaks in fuel tanks reported.

Environmental survey lists more hazardous chemicals.

EPA published drinking water standards and suggested drinking water levels for TCE. 

Worburn, Mass. water contamination investigated.  ~ Remember Erin Brockovich?

Outside chemists begin water testing.

Results of testing hampered because chlorinated by-products interfering with test results.

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, ATSDR, was established by Congress.

Water testing at rifle range signals wider contamination.

"Water highly contaminated...(Solvents).

Synthetic organic compounds found in living areas. 

Contaminants found in largest living areas.

Base chemist notes health effects from TCE and PCE.

More wells tested and reported contaminated.

Marine Corps forced to begin it's own testing.

Ten wells closed.

Trichloroethylene found at alarming levels.

Marine Corps told EPA it didn't know about contamination.

Revelations about benzene in the water first revealed.

Estimates of leaked fuel reached 1,100,000 gallons.

EPA and North Carolina not notified about leaking fuel storage tanks. 

Thousands of documents reveal Camp Lejeune is "worst public drinking water contamination in nation's history"

Camp Lejeune placed on Superfund Site list.

Leaking fuel depot shut down.

There were no attempts to remediate or recover the lost fuel until 1989

Testing continues and efforts to document the contamination continue. 

ATSDR concluded that both cancer and non-cancer health effects were unlikely in adults exposed to VOC-contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune based on worst-case estimates. 

EPA call for criminal investigation - later dropped.

Commandant of Marine Corps seats "Water Fact Finding" panel.

Government Accountability Office reviewed USMC actions and had no conclusions or recommendations.

Online notification registry is opened.

Final report of Veteran's Disability Benefits Commission acknowledges contamination from 1953 to 1987.

ATSDR released its water modeling results for Tarawa Terrace and vicinity.

The National Defense Authorization Act required Secretary of the Navy to identify and notify those who "may" be affected.

Together with the IRS, 150,000 notification letters are sent out.

In 2009, ATSDR removed the 1997 Camp Lejeune Public Health Assessment having found “that communities serviced by the Holcomb Boulevard distribution system were exposed to contaminated water for a longer period than we knew in 1997

Reports were withdrawn by the ATSDR that had previously stated the USMC admitted to losing up to 50,000 gallons of fuel at Hadnot Point over the nearly 50 years in operation. The number was changed to 1.1 million gallons of water that were released into the water at Hadnot Point.

Claim Processing guidelines instruct the claim examiners notes, "it will be assumed by VA that any given Veteran-claimant who served at Camp Lejeune was potentially exposed in some manner to the full range of chemicals known to have contaminated the water there between 1957 and 1987.

“Honoring America’s Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012” became law. The VA began providing health care to eligible Camp Lejeune Veterans

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) released a list of presumptive conditions related to water contamination at Camp Lejeune. The conditions on the list include cancer, kidney disease, and liver disease. Veterans may become eligible for disability benefits through the VA.

Exposure Routes include ingestion, inhalation (from steam in showers and cooking), and dermal exposure, also from showering). 

New Rules: Claims for "Camp Lejeune requires sufficient medical evidence that the disability is related to that exposure. 

This medical evidence will generally come from a competent and qualified medical examiner who provides an opinion, justified with a rational scientific explanation, establishing a medical nexus between the claimed disability and the exposure."

ATSDR’s publishes report: “Exposure to Contaminated Drinking Water and Specific Birth Defects and Childhood Cancers at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.” 

ATSDR wrongly states to General Hickey that no VOC's were detected until 1982.

ATSDR’s “Evaluation of mortality among Marines and Navy personnel exposed to contaminated drinking water at USMC Base Camp Lejeune: A retrospective cohort study”
was published.

ATSDR’s “Mortality study of civilian employees exposed to contaminated drinking water at MCB Camp Lejeune: a retrospective cohort study” was published.

ATSDR’s “Evaluation of contaminated drinking water and preterm birth, SGA, and birth weight at MCB Camp Lejeune, North Carolina: a cross-sectional study” was published.

VA initiates hiring process to to address handling Camp Lejeune claim. All claims are processed through one center (Louisville, KY)

New rules are implemented and direction given how claims are to be processed.

Online notification registry is opened. 

Final report of Veteran's Disability Benefits Commission acknowledges contamination from 1953 to 1987.

ATSDR’s “Evaluation of contaminated drinking water and male breast cancer at MCB Camp Lejeune, North Carolina: a case control study”
was published.

The National Defense Authorization Act required Secretary of the Navy to identify and notify those who "may" be affected.

Together with the IRS, only 150,000 notification letters are sent out to the more than 1,000,000 estimated individuals that may have been contaminated.

ATSDR publishes "Assessment of the Evidence for the Drinking Water Contaminants at Camp Lejeune and Specific Cancers and Other Diseases."

VA issues presumptive service connection rule.

The Navy denies more than 4,400 civil claims for tort benefits, claiming immunity under the Federal Tort Claims Act FTCA.

Honor Our Commitment Act of 2021

As of August 2023 no suits covered by the Honor our Commitment Act of 2021 have been settled.

Given the contamination's history and the Marine Corps' negligence, it's time to challenge them. They're only acknowledging a few contaminants and illnesses, despite severe contamination.

Use all contaminants to strengthen your case. With numerous contaminants, the chance of linking your illnesses to them increases.