In August 2022, a long-fought victory for those injured or killed from harmful chemicals found in the contaminated water at the Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina came with the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 (“Camp Lejeune Act”) which was passed as part of the larger federal toxin relief legislation found in the Honoring the PACT Act.
Camp Lejeune Injury Claims Allowed by New Federal Camp Lejeune Act
This new federal law creates federal relief for the victims of Camp Lejeune’s toxic water contamination through the filing of federal lawsuits in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina. The causes of action may be either wrongful death or bodily injury claims as defined by the State of North Carolina. There is a two (2) year statute of limitations filing deadline.
It is not just those in active service that may be eligible for damages under the new Camp Lejeune Act. Family members, other residents, and civilian workers may also be able to file for damage claims if they meet the requirements of “claimant” as defined in the law itself. For more, read our earlier discussion in Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Victims: Filing Federal Civil Injury Claims for Toxic Tap Water Harm.
Military Installations at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina
The U.S. Department of Defense describes Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune as a “massive installation” located on the Atlantic coast, where it covers 156,000 acres in the state of North Carolina. The military base was constructed during World War II during 1941-1942 and named for the 13th Commandant of the Marine Corps, Lieutenant General John A. Lejeune. Today, Camp Lejeune hosts “…approximately 137,526 marines, sailors, retirees, their families, and civilian employees.”
Its unique locale is suitable for both ground and amphibious training. Within the massive facility are several smaller military installations, most in full operation during the pertinent thirty (30) year time period covered by the Camp Lejeune Act. They include:
- Camp Johnson;
- Camp Geiger (Marine Combat Training at the School of Infantry);
- Courthouse Bay (Marine Corps Engineer School and the Joint Maritime Training Center);
- Stone Bay; and
- Greater Sandy Run Training Area.
There is also the nearby Marine Corps Air Station New River, built in 1941 and placed under the supervision of Camp Lejeune in 1943.
VA Recognition of Toxic Water Harm at Camp Lejeune Military Installations
In 2017, the Department of Veterans Affairs recognized that exposure to the contaminated water with potentially harmful or deadly results included not only the geographical region of Camp Lejeune proper but also other installations on the base, including Marine Corps Air Station New River; Sandy Run; Stone Bay; Camp Geiger; and Camp Johnson (see the map here).
Earlier federal legislation provides for VA benefits coverage for those impacted by the Camp Lejeune water contamination at these locations. Read, Camp Lejeune: Past Water Contamination published by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Accordingly, for those who served, worked, or spent time at these military installations on or near Camp Lejeune, it is important to consider whether or not harm that may include cancer; congenital heart defects; Parkinson’s Disease; and other recognized injuries form the basis for personal injury or wrongful death claims under the 2022 Camp Lejeune Act.
Key Factor: The Water Treatment Plants
It is not disputed that eight water treatment plants were busy providing water for personal use (cooking, bathing, showers, hand-washing, etc.) during the thirty (30) year time period covered by the Camp Lejeune Act. They are:
- Courthouse Bay
- Hadnot Point
- Holcomb Boulevard
- Montford Point/Camp Johnson
- New River
- Onslow Beach
- Rifle Range
- Tarawa Terrace.
The three water treatment plants discovered to have contaminated water were (1) Hadnot Point; (2) Holcomb Boulevard; and (3) Tarawa Terrace.
These three water treatment plants are known to have provided water to the following areas of Camp Lejeune:
- Barracks (Hadnot Point)
- Bachelors Quarters: (Hadnot Point)
- Berkeley Manor (Hadnot Point to 1972, then Hadnot Point and Holcomb Boulevard)
- Hospital Point (Hadnot Point)
- Knox Trailer Park (Tarawa Terrace)
- Midway Park (Hadnot Point to 1972, then Hadnot Point and Holcomb Boulevard)
- Paradise Point (Hadnot Point to 1972, then Hadnot Point and Holcomb Boulevard)
- Tarawa Terrace (Tarawa Terrace)
- Watkins Village (Hadnot Point to 1972, then Hadnot Point and Holcomb Boulevard)
For more, read (1) the 2017 study undertaken by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (“ATSDR”) entitled, “ATSDR Assessment of the Evidence for the Drinking Water Contaminants at Camp Lejeune and Specific Cancers and Other Diseases” (“CDC-ATSDR Report”); and (2) the online Frequently Asked Questions answered by the ATSDR regarding water modeling for its Camp Lejeune investigation.
The Department of Veterans Affairs has acknowledged that these water treatment plants also provided contaminated water to other installations, such as Marine Corps Air Station New River; Sandy Run; Stone Bay; Camp Geiger; and Camp Johnson.
Regardless of the official military installation locations within the entirety of the Camp Lejeune property, the key factor for victims of the Camp Lejeune toxic water is whether or not they can prove exposure to the contaminated water that moved through one of the treatment plants known to provide toxic water for public use.
Seeking Justice Under the Camp Lejeune Act: Various Military Installations
For those in Indiana and Illinois who suspect that they or one of their loved ones was harmed by the toxic water of Camp Lejeune, they have a legal right to investigate that possible avenue for justice under the new federal law.
These toxic water victims and their loved ones may find the support of experienced personal injury advocates working on their behalf particularly helpful as they:
- Confirm they meet the definition of “claimant” under the Camp Lejeune Act;
- Collect documents and witness testimony to support their claim of harm (which may be complicated given the 30 years involved in these matters);
- Authenticate their findings and build admissible evidence to meet their burden of proof under the procedural and evidentiary rules of the federal district court; and
- File their personal injury complaint in federal court in conformity with the provisions of the Camp Lejeune Act (e.g., in the proper North Carolina court within the statutory time deadline).
For more on Camp Lejeune Toxic Water Claims, read our earlier series articles that include:
- Toxins in the Water: Causation in the Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Claims
- What is a Presumptive Injury Claim Under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act?
- Cancer and Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Claims
- Cardiac Birth Defects and Congenital Heart Problems: Camp Lejeune Injury Claims
- Diseases and Harm From Camp Lejeune Toxic Water Contamination.
With the passage of the 2022 Camp Lejeune Act our military service personnel and their loved ones, as well as others serving or supporting our military efforts, are now able to pursue justice for those harmed by the recognized toxic water contamination that covered a shocking three decades on a premier military base. Please be careful out there!
