The June 2009 NRC Report (FAQs)

1. How has ATSDR responded to the recommendations of the NRC 2009 report?

ATSDR has established a final plan to complete our epidemiologic studies at Camp Lejeune.  ATSDR considered not only the NRC report, but also the advice of scientific experts from four ATSDR expert panels.  In addition, ATSDR has considered comments from individual scientists and our Community Assistance Panel (CAP).  ATSDR concludes that our portfolio of epidemiologic studies are scientifically useful. These studies also provide a service to the community of service men and women exposed to contaminated drinking water at USMC Base Camp Lejeune. 

2. Will the Department of Navy fund ATSDR’s research?

ATSDR is an agency within DHHS and is independent of the DOD/DON/USMC.  The work we conduct at superfund sites on governmental property is funded by the responsible agencies.  ATSDR provides the DON with an annual funding plan for our work.  DON officials must make the final determination to fund ATSDR’s research at Camp Lejeune.  

3. The NRC report suggests that additional studies of Camp Lejeune are not warranted because exposures were low and of short duration and the difficulty of the historic exposure reconstruction.  Why is ATSDR pursuing this research?

ATSDR concludes that our portfolio of epidemiologic studies are not only scientifically useful, but also a service to the community of service men and women exposed to contaminated drinking water at USMC Base Camp Lejeune.