KBR Opinion Editorial Response to "Iraq Exposure" Stories - Sodium Dichromate Issue – Charleston Gazette, October 2009

As the old saying goes, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but not their own facts. Recent media coverage on lawsuits filed against KBR alleging military personnel were sickened because of long-term exposure to sodium dichromate at Qarmat Ali, an Iraqi water treatment plant has been so erroneous that it is time to set the record straight.

It is important to understand that the chemical in question - sodium dichromate, which is used as an anti-corrosive agent in industrial enterprises - was left behind at the Qarmat Ali plant by Iraqi staff upon vacating the site in the wake of Saddam Hussein's overthrow in 2003. No remedial action was taken to clean up the site prior to KBR's arrival in support of U.S. Forces. KBR was not hired to do an environmental assessment of the facility and was told the site was free of environment hazards prior to starting work.

One erroneous assertion is that KBR discovered the presence of sodium dichromate at Qarmat Ali and took no precautionary action. In fact, immediately after we became aware of potential contamination from sodium dichromate in the plant, KBR began working with the military to conduct air and soil testing at the site and posted signs in English and Arabic to advise of the presence of the chemical. In October of 2003, The U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventative Medicine issued a report noting that KBR effectively minimized exposure at the site.

Moreover, the U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine (USACHPPM) conducted extensive testing on military personnel who were stationed at the site to determine any exposure levels. The testing showed that no troops were harmed and that they were unlikely to develop future injury from any limited exposure they received while in Iraq. The CHPPM results were further reviewed and confirmed by the Defense Health Board of the Department of Defense. The British military reached similar conclusions regarding their own troops. KBR's testing also found no measureable exposure and no indication of injury. The troops were on the site an average of 18 days, and the scientific literature indicates that this amount of exposure is insufficient to cause long-term health effects. There is no evidence linking any injury to chemical exposure at the water treatment facility.

KBR remains committed to a fact-based dialogue on this issue. We will also continue our historic practice of working fully and cooperatively with the government on this matter.

Since 2003, KBR has supported the United States military in Iraq, providing life support services such as meals and laundry and mail service to our troops. KBR remains proud of the work it performs and we intend to continue our vigorous defense on this issue, on behalf of the more than 50,000 dedicated employees who work tirelessly for KBR in Iraq and Afghanistan at great sacrifice to themselves and their families.