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Bill tightens regs on base water contaminant

The nation’s top environmental agency would be required to tighten regulations on a contaminant found in several military bases’ drinking water under legislation introduced on Capitol Hill today.

The bill would require the Environmental Protection Agency to establish a health advisory and a National Primary Drinking Water Regulation, which is a legally enforceable public water system standard, to limit levels of trichloroethylene, a metal degreaser, according to a press release.

TCE is one of the volatile organic compounds found in the water supply in two base housing areas at Camp Lejeune, N.C., where 10 contaminated wells were shut down in 1985. Lejeune is one of 23 military bases recently listed as having contaminated groundwater by the Department of Health and Human Services’ Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.

The contamination at Lejeune came from underground storage tanks, both on and off base, some of which were installed in the 1940s, according to the registry agency. Trichloroethylene and tetrachloroethylene, solvents used for degreasing and dry cleaning, and other toxic chemicals were identified in water sampling that eventually led to the well closures.

Studies have linked the chemicals to leukemia, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, birth defects and several cancers.

At least 850 former Lejeune residents and base employees have filed administrative claims, seeking nearly $4 billion, for exposure to the solvents.

Sens. Elizabeth Dole, R-N.C.; Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y.; Barbara Boxer, D-Calif.; Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J.; and John Kerry, D-Mass., introduced the bill.

“Drinking water contaminated with TCE can lead to serious health problems and even terminal illness for those exposed, particularly babies in utero, infants and children,” Dole stated in a press release. “We can and must take the necessary steps to protect people and avoid senseless tragedies.”

Under the proposed bill, the EPA would also have to prepare an electronic database containing information on the health effects that may result from exposure to TCE vapors.

Related reading:

Senator: Notify Marines of toxic tap water

23 military bases have tainted water

Contaminated water legacy at Lejeune probed