Lawmakers to hold news briefing on burn pits
Military Times
By Kelly Kennedy – Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Jun 10, 2009 20:03:12 EDT
Sponsors of a bill aimed at more tightly regulating the use of open-air burn pits for waste disposal in Iraq and Afghanistan will hold a news conference Thursday to highlight the effects on troops of possible exposure to toxins from burn-pit smoke.
“There is mounting evidence that veterans may be ill — and some may have actually died — as a result of exposure to dangerous toxins produced by the pits,” Rep. Tim Bishop, D-N.Y., said in a statement. Bishop co-sponsored the bill with Rep. Carol Shea-Porter, D-N.H.
The news conference will feature veterans who say they were sickened by the plumes, as well as an epidemiologist who specializes in the health risks associated with exposure to burn pits, which are used at bases throughout Iraq and Afghanistan.
The legislation, HR 2419, prohibits building burn pits on new bases that military officials know will exist for more than six months, and it calls for tracking all troops exposed to the black plumes that come from the pits.
Congressional interest in the issue follows an investigative series by Military Times that showed military environmental officials were concerned about the pits, into which everything from petroleum products to body parts have been burned. (To read the rest of this great article, view pics and video click HERE)
I would personally like to thank Jill Wilkins. Jill contacted me last year about her husband who served in Iraq and died of a brain tumor. (click HERE) She was having problems with the VA and asked if I could help by writing about her husband in hopes the issue would get some media attention. That was the least I could do and it worked. Jill did an interview for ABC and there shortly after the VA seemed to work much more efficiently.
Jill did not stop there. She continued her quest to raise the level of awareness about the burn pits in order to protect others. Now it’s well on the way to becoming legislation.
I have met so many heroes since I’ve started this blog and Jill is one them.
Kevin would be so proud of you!!
Ms Sparky
Like I mentioned in another posting. This isn’t a KBR problem, it’s military SOP and a military problem.
Ms Sparky’s Response:
We are holding the DoD equally responsible for lack of oversight. But there are provisions in the KBR’s Statement of Work. I may be reading this wrong but this is what it says so you tell me.
Surface Burning. In coordination with the LSO and ACO, the contractor shall provide new or operate uncontaminated existing burn site while minimizing the environmental effects on the base camp. The contractor shall ensure the products of combustion are reduced to ash and non-combustible components. The contractor shall minimize any type of smoke exposures to the camp population.
Maybe an ex military memeber could explain it better. But the problem is, the military doesn’t see a problem with it because they burn everything and anything in the burn pit. So if KBR, if indeed KBR or it’s LN or TCN companies is involved in it they aren’t doing anything as the military sees as ‘wrong’.
Ms Sparky’s Response:
Yes the military is responsible for oversight. But it is like I tell my grandson. Just because I’m not there to catch you doing something wrong doesn’t mean it’s right! The DoD and KBR were sleeping together on this issue and A LOT of people got sick!
My daughter was at FOB Hammer from Mar.2007-May 2008. She has had many health issues while she was there,and since she has been back. She was informed she has Acute Leukemia A.L.L. as of two weeks ago. We knew her area was contaminated by a report she received just before returning home. The doctor’s said her Leukemia was caused by exposer to chemicals. She said she had to go into the burn pits to search for night vision goggles that disappeared. We are sure her Leukemia was caused by her environment over in Iraq. She is a single mother with two children and in her early 30’s.