I posted a few weeks ago about soldiers in Iraq who were exposed to Cr-6 that was used by KBR for hydraulic fracturing.
Here is an update on that case:
Senate Democratic Policy Committee Hearing
“The Exposure at Qarmat Ali:
Did the Army Fail to Protect U.S. Soldiers Serving in Iraq?”
Monday, August 3, 2009
2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
628 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Find more information about the issue here.
In April 2003, the Army assigned members of the IN, OR, and SC National Guard to escort and protect KBR contractors working on the “Restore Iraqi Oil” contract. This contract was for the assessment and repair of Iraq’s oil infrastructure. Repairing the Qarmat Ali water treatment plant, which maintained pressure in nearby oil wells, was a key part of this mission.
Weeks after soldiers arrived at Qarmat Ali, a newly arrived KBR safety officer complained of widespread orange and yellow dust piled feet deep in places. That powder was sodium dichromate, a hexavalent chromium compound used as a corrosion fighter in the oil pipes. The same deadly chemical made famous by the movie Erin Brockovich. The safety officer at Qarmat Ali reported that 60 percent of the soldiers and staff at the site reported suffering adverse health effects including nose perforations, nose bleeds, spitting up blood, and itchy lungs.
According to the Army, KBR did not test conditions at Qarmat Ali until August 2003 — and waited to notify the military of the potential sodium dichromate exposure until one month later, in September 2003. The Indiana Guard learned of the contamination when KBR managers arrived in protective suits in August.
Witnesses at this hearing will discuss the Army’s response to U.S. soldiers’ exposure to sodium dichromate, a potentially deadly carcinogen, at the Qarmat Ali water injection facility. The hearing will include testimony from soldiers from the IN, OR, and WV National Guard who have become sick after being exposed at the site. Senators will examine the Army’s response to the exposure, including its oversight of contractor KBR, testing and monitoring of those who were exposed, and communications with soldiers about the nature, extent and possible health consequences of their exposure.
For more information contact Carl Segerblom at (202) 224-1833 or carl_segerblom@dpc.senate.gov.
About Sharon Wilson
Sharon Wilson is considered a leading citizen expert on the impacts of shale oil and gas extraction. She is the go-to person whether it’s top EPA officials from D.C., national and international news networks, or residents facing the shock of eminent domain and the devastating environmental effects of natural gas development in their backyards.
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I feel so sorry for these poor guys, this stuff is one of the most violent carcinogen know to man.It's too bad the our government is so in love with money, over human life.
I live in a community in South Midland County, that is contaminated with VERY high Hexavalent Chromium, more that 50 times over EPA in our drinking water wells. In 2006 it was 2,600 ppb, and now three years later it's 5,250ppb and growing.
The TCEQ,EPA,and the government have let us down by not controlling the use of Cr6 in the oil field. We 50+ homes have been affected and still spreading, they have destroyed our aquifer(trinity) FOREVER ! All in the name of MONEY!
TCEQ spent a whole 4 days investigating where the contamination come from. Erin Brockovitch has spent 3 months investigating and has found who did it, with no thanks to our government! TCEQ says they don't know who did it, but it was not who the Brockovitch says it is. I guess money can buy anyone off even TCEQ and Washington.
Sleepless in Midland.
I'm so sorry this has happened to you! I've tried to call attention to your situation in Midland. I agree that all our governmental agencies have let you down and I think it's an outrage!
You bet the state agencies in Tx are NOT going to help the ordinary citizens against O&G or other industrial polluters. These agencies are all bought off, always have been, always will be! The only hope is to take them off of public funding. They should be allowed to go to O&G and the polluters to solicit their funding. This would save a bunch of tax money—-and nothing would change.
We can only hope, they have mercy on our neighborhood. We have allot of elderly people in it. They are too tired and too old to fight for themselves. They have all lost what they have live and worked for all of their lives. Many have lost their spouses,children and pets to CANCER. It has destroyed all of our LIVES in every way.
HOME property values are gone, yards cant be watered, gardens for food are contaminated and cant be water by the states filtered water. We are only allowed enough water for household use.
We didn't ask for this, and the government is just turning their heads, because it's the BIG oil companies doing it , and that makes it OK. They have lobbyist in Washington right now lobbying against regulations on Fract fluids, and other so called company secrets. All the while, they are destroying our homes,our land, the surface water and the ground water. Killing us, our children, and grandchildren,our live stock and pets!
Sleepless in Midland
I know the media is focusing a lot of attention on the story about the soldiers in Iraq who were poisoned with the same chemical. I hope they will shine a light on your situation as well. Never doubt that I'm pushing for that every day.
Thank you Sharon ! we need all the help we can get.
I too hope the media will tell our story ! that is if they have not been paid off too !
Big Giant Oil Companies can squish us like little tiny bugs with no problem.
We need any and all help we can get.
Sleepless in Midland