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TIMELINE
This timeline provides a chronological overview of key Camp Lejeune Historic Drinking Water events.
It is not intended to represent a comprehensive summary of events from 1941 to present. Scroll over
timeline entries in bold for additional information.
1941 - 1979
1941:
MCB Camp Lejeune
is established. Hadnot Point housing is constructed
and drinking water system began operation.
1952:
Tarawa Terrace housing is constructed and Tarawa Terrace drinking
water system began operation.
1953:
Year ATSDR estimates Hadnot Point drinking water system was
affected by chemicals.
1957:
Year ATSDR estimates Tarawa Terrace drinking water system was
affected by chemicals.
1972:
Holcomb Boulevard drinking water system began operation.
1979:
EPA published drinking water standards for THMs, a by-product of drinking
water disinfection, and suggested drinking water levels for TCE, a solvent often
used for cleaning weapons and machinery.
1980s
1980:
EPA published suggested drinking water levels for PCE, a solvent often
used for dry cleaning.
1980-1981:
The base sampled drinking water for THMs and other chemicals
interfered with results.
1982:
Special
tap water testing
identified TCE and PCE as the chemicals
interfering with results.
1982-1984:
The Navy initiated an environmental cleanup program to identify
potentially contaminated sites at Camp Lejeune for further investigation. As part of
this effort, drinking water wells near potentially contaminated sites were tested.
1984-1985:
Based on chemicals detected in drinking water wells near potentially
contaminated sites, the Base initiated a comprehensive drinking water well testing
effort. Ten wells were identified as being impacted and were removed from service
the same day. The Base notified residents and workers through notices and
newspaper articles.
1987-1989:
SDWA regulations for TCE, benzene, and vinyl chloride were published
in the FR in 1987 and standards became effective and enforceable in 1989.
1990s
1991-1992:
SDWA regulations for PCE were published in the FR in 1991 and
standards became effective and enforceable in 1992.
1991-1997:
ATSDR conducted and published a PHA.
1998:
ATSDR published the results of its
“Volatile Organic Compounds in Drinking
Water and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes Study.”
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/HS/lejeune/
2000s
2003-2005:
EPA/DOJ criminal investigation concluded no SDWA violations and no
conspiracy to conceal evidence.
2004:
Commandant of the Marine Corps established expert panel to examine
past decision making. The panel reported no violations of law and no evidence
of covering up information.
https://clnr.hqi.usmc.mil/clwater/content/documents/2004_CMC_Fact_Finding_report.pdf
2005-2007:
Government Accountability Office reviewed USMC actions and had no
conclusions or recommendations.
https://www.gao.gov/new.items/d07276.pdf
2007:
USMC launched notification and registration campaign for former residents
to sign up for more information by telephone or internet.
2007:
ATSDR released its water modeling results for Tarawa Terrace and vicinity.
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/sites/lejeune/tarawaterrace.html
2009:
ATSDR removed the PHA from its website and announced plans to
re-evaluate the PHA drinking water portion when water modeling efforts are
complete.
2009:
NRC released its
“Contaminated Drinking Water at Camp Lejeune”
report.
http://dels.nas.edu/Report/Contaminated-Water-Supplies-Camp-Lejeune/12618
2010s
2012:
President Obama signed the “Honoring America’s Veterans and Caring for
Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012” into law. The VA began providing health care
to eligible Camp Lejeune Veterans.
2013:
ATSDR released its “Chapter A: Summary and Findings” water modeling
report for the Hadnot Point and Holcomb Boulevard water treatment plants and
vicinities at MCB Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/sites/lejeune/hadnotpoint.html
2013:
ATSDR’s
“Exposure to Contaminated Drinking Water and Specific Birth
Defects and Childhood Cancers at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North
Carolina”
was published.
https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/sites/lejeune/update.html
2014:
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.
https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/sites/lejeune/mortalitystudy.html
2014:
ATSDR’s
“Mortality study of civilian employees exposed to contaminated
drinking water at MCB Camp Lejeune: a retrospective cohort study”
was published.
https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/sites/lejeune/civilianmortalitystudy.html
2014:
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.
https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/sites/lejeune/adversebirthoutcomesstudy.html
2015:
ATSDR’s
“Evaluation of contaminated drinking water and male breast
cancer at MCB Camp Lejeune, North Carolina: a case control study”
was published.
https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/sites/lejeune/malebreastcancerstudy.html
2017:
ATSDR’s
“Camp Lejeune Drinking Water Public Health Assessment”
was
published.
https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/HAC/pha/MarineCorpsBaseCampLejeune/
Camp_Lejeune_drinking_Water_PHA(final)_%201-20-2017_508.pdf
2017:
VA issues presumptive service connection rule.
ATSDR - Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
CLHDW - Camp Lejeune Historic Drinking Water
DOJ - Department of Justice
EPA - Environmental Protection Agency
FR - Federal Register
MBW - Mean Birth Weight
MCB - Marine Corps Base
NRC - National Research Council
PCE - Perchloroethylene
PHA - Public Health Assessment
SDWA - Safe Drinking Water Act
SGA - Small for Gestational Age
TCE - Trichloroethylene
THMs - Trihalomethanes
TLBW - Term Low Birth Weight
USMC - U.S. Marine Corps
VA - Department of Verterans Affairs
VOC - Volatile Organic Compounds
MCB
Camp
Lejeune
Drinking
Water
Systems
Drinking
Water
System
Requirements
and
Sampling
Efforts
Notification
and
Outreach
Scientific
Studies
and Health
Activities
Since 1941, Camp Lejeune’s
mission has been to prepare
warfighters for deployment
for combat and humanitarian
missions abroad. The Base,
which encompasses 236
square miles (156,000 acres),
provides housing, facilities,
training lands, and logistical
support for warfighters.
The interference with THM
results was inconsistent.
The test results varied
between drinking water
samples collected at different
times.
The purpose of the study was
to evaluate potential
associations between
exposures to contaminated
drinking water at Camp
Lejeune and adverse
pregnancy outcomes.
The report consisted of a
review of scientific and
medical literature as well as
an assessment of current and
proposed ATSDR studies.
The purpose of this study was
to determine if maternal
exposures to the drinking
water contaminants at Camp
Lejeune increased the risk of
neural tube defects, oral clefts,
and childhood hematopoietic
cancers.
The purpose of this study was
to determine whether
exposures of Marine and Naval
personnel to contaminated
drinking water at Camp
Lejeune increased risk of
mortality from cancers and
other chronic diseases.
The purpose of this study was
to determine whether
potential exposures to the
drinking water contaminants
at Camp Lejeune are
associated with increased risk
of death from specific cancers
and other chronic diseases
among civilian workers
employed at the base.
The purpose of this study was
to evaluate associations
between residential prenatal
exposure to contaminated
drinking water at Camp
Lejeune between 1968 and
1985 and preterm birth, SGA,
TLBW, and MBW.
The purpose of this study was
to determine if Marines who
were exposed to contaminated
drinking water at Camp
Lejeune were more likely to
have male breast cancer.
The purpose of this study was
to update the drinking water
portion of the PHA that was
issued in 1997.
