Sec. 1094. Independent epidemiological analysis of health effects from exposure to Department of Defense activities in Vieques
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/bill/117/hr/4350/eh/section-1094·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
The Secretary of Defense shall seek to enter into an agreement with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine for the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to perform the services covered by this section. The Secretary shall seek to enter into the agreement described in paragraph
(1)not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. Under an agreement between the Secretary and the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine under this section, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine shall carry out epidemiological studies of the short-term, long-term, primary, and secondary health effects caused or sufficiently correlated to exposure to chemicals and radioactive materials from activities of the Department of Defense in the communities of concern, including any recommendations. In carrying out such studies, the National Academies may incorporate the research generated pursuant to funding opportunity number EPA–G2019–ORD–A1. The epidemiological studies carried out under paragraph
(1)and the recommendations developed under such paragraph shall include the following: A list of known contaminants and their locations that have been left by the Department of Defense in the communities of concern. For each contaminant under subparagraph (A), an epidemiological study that— estimates the disease burden of current and past residents of Vieques, Puerto Rico, from such contaminants; incorporates historical estimates of residents’ groundwater exposure to contaminants of concern that— predate the completion of the water-supply pipeline in 1978; include exposure to groundwater from Atlantic Weapons Fleet Weapons Training Area Area of Concern E and any other exposures that the National Academies determine necessary; consider differences between the aquifers of Vieques; and consider the differences between public and private wells, and possible exposures from commercial or agricultural uses; and includes estimates of current residents’ exposure to chemicals and radiation which may affect the groundwater, food, air, or soil, that— include current residents’ groundwater exposure in the event of the water-supply pipeline being temporarily lost; and is based on the actual practices of residents in Vieques during times of duress, for example the use of wells for fresh water following Hurricane Maria. An identification of Military Munitions Response Program sites that have not fully investigated whether contaminants identified at other sites are present or the degree of contamination present. The production of separate, peer-reviewed quality research into adverse health outcomes, including cancer, from exposure to drinking water contaminated with methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE). Any other factors the National Academies determine necessary. Not later than two years after the date of the execution of an agreement under subsection (a), the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine shall— submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the findings of the National Academies under subsection (b); and make available to the public on a publicly accessible website a version of the report that is suitable for public viewing. The report submitted under paragraph (1)(A) shall be submitted in unclassified form. In this section: The term appropriate congressional committees means— the congressional defense committees; and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate. The term communities of concern means Naval Station Roosevelt Roads and the former Atlantic Fleet Weapons Training Area.