Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 118.djvu/1874

 118 STAT. 1844 PUBLIC LAW 108–375—OCT. 28, 2004 (c) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than April 1, 2005, the Comp troller General shall submit to the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives a report containing the results of the study, including information regarding the matters specified in subsection (b) and any recommendations, including recommendations for administrative or legislative action, that the Comptroller General considers appropriate. SEC. 317. COMPTROLLER GENERAL STUDY AND REPORT ON DRINKING WATER CONTAMINATION AND RELATED HEALTH EFFECTS AT CAMP LEJEUNE, NORTH CAROLINA. (a) STUDY.—The Comptroller General shall conduct a study on drinking water contamination and related health effects at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. The study shall consist of the following: (1) A study of the history of drinking water contamination at Camp Lejeune to determine, to the extent practical— (A) what contamination has been found in the drinking water; (B) the source of such contamination and when it may have begun; and (C) what actions have been taken to address such contamination. (2) An assessment of the study on the possible health effects associated with the drinking of contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune as proposed by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry of the Department of Health and Human Services, including whether the proposed study— (A) will address the appropriate at risk populations; (B) will encompass an appropriate timeframe; (C) will consider all relevant health effects; and (D) can be completed on an expedited basis without compromising its quality. (b) AUTHORITY TO USE EXPERTS.—The Comptroller General may use experts in conducting the study required by subsection (a). Any such experts shall be independent, highly qualified, and knowledgeable in the matters covered by the study. (c) PARTICIPATION BY OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES.—In con ducting the study required by subsection (a), the Comptroller Gen eral shall ensure that interested parties, including individuals who lived or worked at Camp Lejeune during the period when the drinking water may have been contaminated, have the opportunity to submit information and views on the matters covered by the study. (d) CONSTRUCTION WITH ATSDR STUDY.—The requirement under subsection (a)(2) that the Comptroller General conduct an assessment of the study proposed by the Agency for Toxic Sub stances and Disease Registry, as described in such subsection, may not be construed as a basis for the delay of that study. The assess ment is intended to provide an independent review of the appro priateness and credibility of the study proposed by the Agency and to identify possible improvements in the plan or implementation of the study proposed by the Agency. (e) REPORT.—(1) Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the study required by subsection (a), including such recommendations as the

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