Activist Erin Brockovich coming to Jacksonville for Camp Lejeune toxic water survivors

It's been more than two months since the Camp Lejeune Justice Act was signed into law by President Joe Biden and advocates with Camp Lejeune Legal are touring the country in a series of town halls that will offer information to help those impacted know their rights.

One of those advocates? Erin Brockovich. The well-known consumer advocate and environmental activist achieved fame decades ago when she helped to win a $333 million settlement for victims in a separate case of water poisoning by Pacific Gas & Electric.

Brockovich is also known for being the subject of a 2000 American biographical legal drama called "Erin Brockovich" in which Julia Roberts starred in the movie as Brockovich.

On Oct. 27 and 28, victims of the largest, most lethal drinking water contamination in U.S. history will join Brockovich and other advocates with Camp Lejeune Legal in two Jacksonville town halls, according to a news release from the group.

Here's what you need to know.

Previous coverage:Camp Lejeune Justice Act stalls, lawyers advertising before bill is even passed

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What is the Camp Lejeune Justice Act?

The Camp Lejeune Justice Act, signed into law by President Joe Biden on August 10, allows people exposed to contaminated drinking water at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune and New River Air Station from 1953 to 1987 to sue the government and potentially recover damages for the harm caused by drinking the water.

"For decades, high levels of cancer-causing chemicals leached into the groundwater at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, the largest Marine base on the east coast," the release from Camp Lejeune Legal said. "Indiscriminate dumping of waste into landfills, leaking fuel tanks and other sources of contamination poisoned the drinking water of hundreds of thousands of veterans, their families ― including children in-utero ― and workers on the advance-force training base, resulting in birth defects and devastating, often fatal illnesses such as leukemia and breast cancer."

The release added the Marine Corps knew about contaminated wells for years but did not shut them down, and even after the pollution was confirmed, the Defense Department obstructed efforts to understand the extent of the harm.

Decades later, President Biden signed into law the Honoring our PACT Act, which includes the Camp Lejeune Justice Act.

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Brockovich to speak at town halls

Jacksonville residents will have the opportunity to hear from Brockovich at the upcoming town halls.

She has joined Mike Partain and Jerry Ensminger who were both instrumental in the bill's passage. Together with Brockovich, they also pushed for the successful passage of a bill in 2012 to provide healthcare for Camp Lejeune victims.

The release said Ensminger is a "true hero and truth-seeker" of Camp Lejeune. He is a retired Marine master sergeant and lived on the base with his wife, who became pregnant with their daughter Janey, in 1975.

"At six, Janey was diagnosed with leukemia," the release read. "She died about two years later. Described as 'a force of nature,' Ensminger has dedicated his life to fighting for other poisoned Camp Lejeune victims, testifying in congressional hearings and investigating the contamination even as the government fought against claims from victims seeking compensation."

Partain, the son of a Marine, was conceived and born at Camp Lejeune, joining the fight for victims after being diagnosed with male breast cancer at the age of 39, the release said. He has worked to uncover the true story of the contamination and locate other men who developed breast cancer after spending time on the base.

Partain and Ensminger were both featured in an award-winning documentary about the Camp Lejeune contamination, "Semper Fi: Always Faithful."

Trial lawyer Mikal Watts will also be present at the town halls. Watts handles a variety of litigation, including catastrophic personal injury and toxic torts, the release added.

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When and where?

The first Jacksonville town hall will take place on Thursday, Oct. 27 at 6 p.m. at the Sturgeon City Environmental Education Center, located at 50 Court Street. The second Jacksonville town hall will take place on Friday, Oct. 28 at 6 p.m. at the American Legion Post 265 at 146 Broadhurst Road.

Can't make it to either one? There are other North Carolina town halls taking place throughout late October and early November for those who can't make it to Jacksonville.

There will be a Wilmington town hall on Saturday, Oct. 29 at 9 a.m. at the American Legion Post 10, located at 702 Pine Grove Drive. There will also be town halls in Raleigh on Nov. 3 at 6 p.m. at The Hibiscus Event Space, located at 3209 Gresham Lake Road Suite 146; Greensboro on Nov. 4 at 6 p.m. at the Henry K. Burtner American Legion Post 53, located at 729 Creek Ridge Road; and Winston-Salem on Nov. 5 at 10 a.m. at The Enterprise Conference and Event Center, located at 1922 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. For more information on the Camp Lejeune Justice Act or the upcoming town halls, visit camplejeunelegal.com.

Reporter Morgan Starling can be reached at mstarling@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on The Daily News: What to know about Erin Brockovich coming to Jacksonville?