VETERANS’ HEALTH AT RISK TO CONTAMINANTS

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(WASHINGTON, DC) – A simple website hyperlink to military installations on the National Priority List (EPA Superfund), identifying the contaminants and health effects can save lives, but no one seems interested in setting up this hyperlink.

Veterans of military installations currently on the National Priority List (EPA Superfund) need to know the contaminants of concern (COC) and the health effects of exposure.

Courtesy: EPA

Exposure to COC’s can cause serious medical conditions, including cancer and death.  Veterans with serious medical conditions who were stationed on an EPA Superfund installation need to share this information with their medical care provider.    

Superfund is the environmental program established to address hazardous waste sites. It is also the name of the fund established by the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended (CERCLA statute, CERCLA overview). CERCLA was passed into law in the wake of the discovery of toxic waste dumps such as Love Canal and Times Beach in the 1970s, according to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 

No one in their right mind would voluntarily live and work on a Superfund site. For the most part, veterans are not provided the choice of military assignments. Many of the installations on the NPL were constructed during WW II and experienced decades of environmental contamination. 

DOD has spent and continues to spend millions in the clean-up of contaminated sites. 

With exception of Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, DOD has no means of readily contacting veterans separated from military service for years and even decades. 

Congress mandated that the Navy and Marine Corps contact veterans of Camp Lejeune regarding the contamination of the base wells.  

As it turns out, thousands of veterans and their dependents lived and worked on military installations that are now listed as EPA Superfund sites. No one has notified these men and women that they are at risk for possible exposure to contaminants.   

EPA lists 130 military installations as Superfund sites, including the Contaminants of Concern (COC’s) with a hyperlink to the health effects of exposure. 

According to EPA, “COC’s  are the chemical substances found at the site that the EPA has determined pose an unacceptable risk to human health or the environment.These are the substances that are addressed by cleanup actions at the site. Identifying COCs is a process where the EPA identifies people and ecological resources that could be exposed to contamination found at the site, determines the amount and type of contaminants present, and identifies the possible negative human health or ecological effects that could result from contact with the contaminants.”

Access to the COC’s and their health effects can easily be obtained from EPA’s Superfund website, if you know where to look and, if you know that you may have been exposed to one or more of the contaminants.

Courtesy: Salem-News.com

The first page of every EPA Superfund website contains a site progress profile, including important information on contamination.  Under the caption “Contamination,” a reader can quickly access all of the site’s COC’s with a hyperlink the health effects as determined by the Agency for Toxic Substances Health Registry (ATSDR), the Federal agency responsible for performing public health assessments of EPA Superfund sites.  Click on view contaminants of concern at this site.  The example below is from MCAS El Toro: 

Contamination

 
   
Contaminants (i.e., hazardous substances, pollutants or contaminants) can be found in several different types of materials on the site including soil and other solid-based media and water or another liquid-based medium (see glossary).The contaminants listed via the links below are considered the contaminants of concern (see glossary) to be addressed by cleanup actions at the site.
Contaminated Media:  Groundwater, Soil
EPA classifies contaminants found into groups or types (listed below). To view all contaminants of concern at the site click on the “view contaminants of concern at this site” link.
Types of Contaminants:  Metals, PAH, PCBs, Persistent Organic Pollutants, Pesticides, VOC

 
see glossary definition for “types of contaminants” >>  
 

view contaminants of concern at this site >>

 
ATSDR ToxFacts information on contaminants

The Veterans Administration and the Veterans Service Organizations (VSO’s) have the capability to establish a website hyperlink to the list of EPA Superfunds that are military installations. 

Legislation may be needed to require the VA to establish a website hyperlink.  The VA is not looking for more clients so I doubt if they would be interested in promulgating this information.  On the other hand, VSO’s exist solely to service the needs of their membership or at least, that’s the theory.  The VSO’s, many with excellent websites, could easily establish a hyperlink on their own authority.   

Our review of the 45 VSO’s chartered by Congress or authorized by the VA to represent VA claimants showed that many have excellent website but NONE PROVIDED ACCESS TO THIS IMPORTANT HEALTH INFORMATION.  

If you are a member of one of the following VSO’s chartered by Congress or recognized by the VA to represent VA claimants, take a few minutes to email your organization, asking them to help to save veterans’ lives by establishing a link to the military installations that are EPA Superfund sites.  The life you save may literally be your own. 

African Amer.Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Assoc.
Air Force Sergeants Association
American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor
American Ex-Prisoners of War
American GI Forum of the United States
American Gold Star Mothers, Inc.
American Legion
American Red Cross
American War Mothers
AMVETS
Armed Forces Services Corporation
Army and Navy Union, USA, Inc.
Associates of Vietnam Veterans of America
Blinded Veterans Association
Blue Star Mothers of America, Inc.
Catholic War Veterans, USA, Inc.
Congressional Medal of Honor Society of the United States of America
Disabled American Veterans
Fleet Reserve Association
Gold Star Wives of America, Inc.
Italian American War Veterans of the USA
Jewish War Veterans of the USA
Korean War Veterans Association, Inc.
Legion of Valor of the USA, Inc.
Marine Corps League
Military Chaplains Association of the United States of America
Military Officers Association of America
Military Order of the Purple Heart of the U.S.A., Inc.
Military Order of the World Wars
National Amputation Foundation, Inc.
National Association for Black Veterans, Inc.
National Association of County Veterans Service Officers, Inc.
National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs (NASDVA)
National Veterans Legal Services Program
National Veterans Organization of America (NOVA)
Navy Club of the United States of America
Navy Mutual Aid Association
Non Commissioned Officers Association
Paralyzed Veterans of America
Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, Inc.
Polish Legion of American Veterans, USA
Reserve Officers Association of the United States
Swords to Plowshares: Veterans Rights Organization
The Retired Enlisted Association
United Spinal Association
United States Submarine Veterans, Inc.
US Submarine Veterans of World War II
Veterans Assistance Foundation, Inc.
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States
Veterans of the Vietnam War, Inc./Vets. Coalition
Veterans of World War I of the USA, Inc.
Vietnam Veterans of America
Women`s Army Corps Veterans Association
Wounded Warrior Project

I’ve listed the military installations that are EPA Superfund sites by military service below.  Please pass this information on to a veteran. 

MILITARY BASES ON THE NPL (EPA SUPERFUNDS)

US Air Force

Air Force Plant #4 (General Dynamics)

Fort Worth TX

Air Force Plant 85

Columbus OH

Air Force Plant PJKS

Littleton CO

American Lake Gardens/McChord AFB

Tacoma WA

Andersen Air Force Base

Yigo GU

Andrews Air Force Base

Andrews Air Force Base MD

Arnold Engineering Development Center (USAF)

Tullahoma/Manchester TN

Brandywine DRMO

Brandywine MD

Castle Air Force Base (6 Areas)

Merced CA

Chanute Air Force Base

Rantoul IL

Dover Air Force Base

Dover DE

Edwards Air Force Base

Edwards AFB CA

Eielson Air Force Base

Fairbanks AK

Ellsworth Air Force Base

Ellsworth AFB SD

Elmendorf Air Force Base

Anchorage AK

F.E. Warren Air Force Base

Cheyenne WY

Fairchild Air Force Base (4 Waste Areas)

Spokane WA

George Air Force Base

Victorville

CA

Griffiss Air Force Base (11 Areas)

Rome NY

Hanscom Field/Hanscom Air Force Base

Bedford MA

Hill Air Force Base

Hill AFB UT

Homestead Air Force Base

Homestead Air Force Base FL

Loring Air Force Base

Limestone ME

Luke Air Force Base

Glendale AZ

March Air Force Base

Riverside CA

Mather Air Force Base (AC&W Disposal Site)

Mather CA

McChord Air Force Base (Wash Rack/Treatment Area)

Tacoma WA

McClellan Air Force Base (Ground Water Contamination)

McClellan AFB CA

McGuire Air Force Base #1

Wrightstown NJ

Mountain Home Air Force Base

Mountain Home ID

Norton Air Force Base (Lndfll #2)

San Bernardino CA

Pease Air Force Base

Portsmouth/Newington NH

Plattsburgh Air Force Base

Plattsburgh NY

Rickenbacker Air National Guard (USAF)

Lockbourne OH

Robins Air Force Base (Landfill #4/Sludge Lagoon)

Houston County GA

Tinker Air Force Base (Soldier Creek/Building 3001)

Oklahoma City OK

Travis Air Force Base

Travis AFB CA

Twin Cities Air Force Reserve Base (Small Arms Range Landfill)

Minneapolis MN

Tyndall Air Force Base

Panama City FL

Williams Air Force Base

Chandler AZ

Wright-Patterson Air Force Base

Dayton OH

Wurtsmith Air Force Base

Oscoda MI

US Army

Aberdeen Proving Ground (Edgewood Area)

Edgewood MD

Aberdeen Proving Ground (Michaelsville Landfill)

Aberdeen MD

Alabama Army Ammunition Plant

Childersburg AL

Anniston Army Depot (Southeast Industrial Area)

Anniston AL

Cornhusker Army Ammunition Plant

Hall County NE

Fort Devens

Fort Devens MA

Fort Devens-Sudbury Training Annex

Sudbury MA

Fort Dix (Landfill Site)

Pemberton Township NJ

Fort Eustis (US Army)

Newport News VA

Fort George G. Meade

Odenton MD

Fort Lewis (Landfill No. 5)

Tacoma WA

Fort Lewis Logistics Center

Tillicum WA

Fort Ord

Marina CA

Fort Richardson (USARMY)

Anchorage AK

Fort Riley

Junction City KS

Fort Wainwright

Fort Wainwright AK

Iowa Army Ammunition Plant

Middletown IA

Joliet Army Ammunition Plant (Load-Assembly-Packing Area)

Joliet IL

Joliet Army Ammunition Plant (Manufacturing Area)

Joliet IL

Lake City Army Ammunition Plant (Northwest Lagoon)

Independence MO

Letterkenny Army Depot (PDO Area)

Franklin County PA

Letterkenny Army Depot (SE Area)

Chambersburg PA

Lone Star Army Ammunition Plant

Texarkana TX

Longhorn Army Ammunition Plant

Karnack TX

Louisiana Army Ammunition Plant

Doyline LA

Materials Technology Laboratory (USARMY)

Watertown

MA

Milan Army Ammunition Plant

Milan TN

Natick Laboratory Army Research, Development, and Engineering Center

Natick MA

New Brighton/Arden Hills/TCAAP (USARMY)

New Brighton MN

Picatinny Arsenal (USARMY)

Rockaway Township NJ

Riverbank Army Ammunition Plant

Riverbank CA

Rocky Mountain Arsenal (USARMY)

Adams County CO

Sacramento Army Depot

Sacramento CA

Savanna Army Depot Activity

Savanna IL

Schofield Barracks (USARMY)

Schofield HI

Seneca Army Depot

Romulus NY

Sharpe Army Depot

Lathrop CA

Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant

Desoto KS

Tobyhanna Army Depot

Tobyhanna PA

Tooele Army Depot (North Area)

Tooele UT

Tracy Defense Depot (USARMY)

Tracy CA

Umatilla Army Depot (Lagoons)

Hermiston OR

US Army/NASA Redstone Arsenal

Huntsville AL

Weldon Spring Former Army Ordnance Works

St. Charles County MO

West Virginia Ordnance (USARMY)

Point Pleasant WV

US Coast Guard

Curtis Bay Coast Guard Yard

Baltimore MD

US Navy

Adak Naval Air Station

Adak AK

Alameda Naval Air Station

Alameda CA

Allegany Ballistics Laboratory (USNAVY)

Mineral County WV

Bangor Naval Submarine Base

Silverdale WA

Bangor Ordnance Disposal (USNAVY)

Bremerton WA

Barstow Marine Corps Logistics Base

Barstow CA

Brunswick Naval Air Station

Brunswick ME

Camp Lejeune Military Res. (USNAVY)

Onslow County NC

Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base

Camp Pendleton CA

Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Station

Havelock NC

Concord Naval Weapons Station

Concord CA

Davisville Naval Construction Battalion Center

North Kingstown RI

El Toro Marine Corps Air Station

El Toro CA

Indian Head Naval Surface Warfare Center

Indian Head MD

Jackson Park Housing Complex (USNAVY)

Kitsap County WA

Jacksonville Naval Air Station

Jacksonville FL

Marine Corps Combat Development Command

Quantico VA

Marine Corps Logistics Base

Albany GA

Moffett Naval Air Station

Moffett Field CA

Naval Air Development Center (8 Waste Areas)

Warminster Township PA

Naval Air Engineering Center

Lakehurst NJ

Naval Air Station, Whidbey Island (Ault Field)

Whidbey Island WA

Naval Air Station, Whidbey Island (Seaplane Base)

Whidbey Island WA

Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek

Virginia Beach VA

Naval Computer and Telecommunications Area Master Station Eastern Pacific

Wahiawa HI

Naval Industrial Reserve Ordnance Plant

Fridley MN

Naval Security Group Activity

Sabana Seca PR

Naval Surface Warfare Center – Dahlgren

Dahlgren VA

Naval Undersea Warfare Engineering Station (4 Waste Areas)

Keyport WA

Naval Weapons Industrial Reserve Plant

Bedford MA

Naval Weapons Station – Yorktown

Yorktown VA

Naval Weapons Station Earle (Site A)

Colts Neck NJ

Navy Ships Parts Control Center

Mechanicsburg PA

New London Submarine Base

New London CT

Newport Naval Education & Training Center

Newport RI

Norfolk Naval Base (Sewells Point Naval Complex)

Norfolk VA

Norfolk Naval Shipyard

Portsmouth VA

NWS Yorktown – Cheatham Annex

Yorktown VA

Parris Island Marine Corps Recruit Depot

Parris Island

SC

Patuxent River Naval Air Station

Patuxent River MD

Pearl Harbor Naval Complex

Pearl Harbor

HI

Pensacola Naval Air Station

Pensacola FL

Port Hadlock Detachment (USNAVY)

Indian Island WA

Portsmouth Naval Shipyard

Kittery ME

Puget Sound Naval Shipyard Complex

Bremerton WA

South Weymouth Naval Air Station

Weymouth MA

St. Juliens Creek Annex (U.S. Navy)

Chesapeake VA

Treasure Island Naval Station-Hunters Point Annex

San Francisco CA

USN Air Station Cecil Field

Jacksonville FL

Washington Navy Yard

Washington DC

Whiting Field Naval Air Station

Milton FL

Willow Grove Naval Air and Air Reserve Station

Horsham PA

Yuma Marine Corps Air Station

Yuma AZ

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Robert O’Dowd served in the 1st, 3rd and 4th Marine Aircraft Wings during 52 months of active duty in the 1960s. While at MCAS El Toro for two years, O'Dowd worked and slept in a Radium 226 contaminated work space in Hangar 296 in MWSG-37, the most industrialized and contaminated acreage on the base. Robert is a two time cancer survivor and disabled veteran. Robert graduated from Temple University in 1973 with a bachelor’s of business administration, majoring in accounting, and worked with a number of federal agencies, including the EPA Office of Inspector General and the Defense Logistics Agency. After retiring from the Department of Defense, he teamed up with Tim King of Salem-News.com to write about the environmental contamination at two Marine Corps bases (MCAS El Toro and MCB Camp Lejeune), the use of El Toro to ship weapons to the Contras and cocaine into the US on CIA proprietary aircraft, and the murder of Marine Colonel James E. Sabow and others who were a threat to blow the whistle on the illegal narcotrafficking activity. O'Dowd and King co-authored BETRAYAL: Toxic Exposure of U.S. Marines, Murder and Government Cover-Up. The book is available as a soft cover copy and eBook from Amazon.com. See: http://www.amazon.com/Betrayal-Exposure-Marines-Government-Cover-Up/dp/1502340003.