Estimated one million Marines, sailors, civilian workers, and family members exposed 1953-1987. CLJA filing window closed August 10, 2024; pending claims continue through Navy JAG administrative process, Elective Option settlement framework, and Eastern District of North Carolina litigation. VA disability presumption effective March 14, 2017 for eight conditions (adult leukemia, aplastic anemia/MDS, bladder cancer, kidney cancer, liver cancer, multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Parkinson's disease) for 30-day exposure veterans/reservists/National Guard.
Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Onslow County, North Carolina
Primary exposure site: 233-square-mile base where three water treatment plants served ~75% of base water from 1953-1987. Hadnot Point Water Treatment Plant (HPWTP) — highest contamination, 80.7% of treated water, TCE max 1,400 µg/L (vs. 5 µg/L MCL), PCE max 100 µg/L, benzene and vinyl chloride from fuel spills; served barracks, workplaces, field training areas via 'water buffaloes,' Hospital Point, French Creek. Tarawa Terrace Water Treatment Plant (TTWTP) — 12.4% of water, PCE max 215 µg/L from ABC One-Hour Cleaners off-base dry cleaner, served family housing, contaminated June 1957-March 1987. Holcomb Boulevard Water Treatment Plant (HBWTP) — 6.92% of water, served Berkeley Manor, Paradise Point, Watkins Village, Midway Park from 1972; cross-connected to HPWTP during dry months 1972-1985 and fully supplied by HPWTP January 27-February 4, 1985 during generator fuel spill, delivering highly contaminated water to those housing areas. ATSDR modeling shows peak cancer risk 1970s-1980s, inhalation primary exposure pathway. Wells shut down February 1985; benzene detected late 1985. Site listed Superfund NPL 1989.
Midway Park, Berkeley Manor, Paradise Point housing areas
Secondary exposure zone: Received Hadnot Point contaminated water pre-1972, then Holcomb Boulevard water 1972-1985. Critical 9-day exposure window January 27-February 4, 1985 when Holcomb Boulevard plant offline due to generator fuel spill; Hadnot Point highly contaminated water rerouted to these areas. Population: family housing residents including spouses and children.
Watkins Village housing area
Secondary exposure zone: Served by Holcomb Boulevard from 1972; received Hadnot Point contaminated water during January 27-February 4, 1985 emergency cross-connection.
Field training areas, Camp Lejeune
Mobile exposure source: Marines in training supplied drinking water via 'water buffaloes' filled from Hadnot Point system — highest TCE contamination base-wide. ATSDR estimates 6 L/day consumption three times weekly during training.
North Carolina
Highest plaintiff concentration among claimant residence states; proximity to base yields large veteran, military family, and former civilian worker population. All claims filed Eastern District of North Carolina regardless of residence.
Florida
Notable claimant residence concentration; large veteran population, retired Marine Corps personnel.
California
Notable claimant residence concentration; large veteran population, Marine Corps personnel stationed Pendleton (comparison cohort in ATSDR mortality studies).
Texas
Notable claimant residence concentration; large veteran population.
Virginia
Notable claimant residence concentration; proximity to North Carolina, Marine Corps presence.
