Marines to Probe Camp Lejeune Case

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The following was posted by Steve Taylor <steve@miltoxproj.org>
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North Carolina
WASHINGTON POST
Marines to Probe Pollution Case
Panel to Study How Camp Lejeune Dealt With Tainted Water
By Manuel Roig-Franzia
Saturday, February 21, 2004; Page A07

The Marine Corps, buffeted by intensifying criticism of its handling of
water contamination at its largest East Coast base, announced yesterday
that an independent panel will be appointed to investigate why officials
at Camp Lejeune, N.C., allowed tainted water to be supplied to base
housing for five years after contaminated wells were discovered.


The wells were closed in 1985, but thousands of former Marines and their
families did not find about the contamination until 1999 when a federal
agency began surveying possible victims as part of an ongoing study. The
Marines estimate that 50,000 people, including civilians who lived on
base, may have consumed the tainted water; victims groups place the
figure as high as 200,000.

Gen. Mike Hagee, the highest-ranking Marine, said he will name a
three-member panel made up of private sector experts in the environment,
engineering and military command procedures. The panel, which has not
yet been selected, will report its findings by Sept. 1, Hagee said in a
statement.

"We are deeply concerned about the health issues raised by members of
our Marine Corps family and are working diligently to ensure that anyone
affected during this period and beyond is well cared for," Hagee said in
a statement. The panel's formation, he said, was prompted by questions
raised by Marine "families and other parties."

Hagee's announcement did little to assuage leaders of a victims rights
group, Water Survivors, who for years have accused the Marines of a
coverup and of moving too slowly to notify former residents. Jerry
Ensminger, a retired master sergeant whose 6-year-old daughter died of
leukemia shortly after the contamination was discovered, questioned
whether the panel would be impartial.

This article can be viewed at:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A59045-2004Feb20.html

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