Radiation fund running out of money

Wednesday, March 8, 2000 | 11:05 a.m.

The current radiation exposure compensation fund for ill uranium miners and those living downwind from nuclear weapons blasts may go broke by summer, and some U.S. senators are concerned because others need help.

The fund covers miners and those living downwind of the Nevada Test Site, where nuclear weapons were tested between 1951 and 1992. The miners and residents contracted high rates of lung cancers and other diseases commonly related to radiation exposure.

Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., has asked the Justice Department to explain why the fund, established under a 1990 law covering uranium miners and those living in the path of nuclear weapons fallout, could be $7.25 million short by June.

Sens. Harry Reid, and Richard Bryan, both D-Nev., said Monday that they will ensure the victims are covered.

The Clinton administration is considering adding 600,000 nuclear weapons workers who may have developed illnesses from radiation, dust, asbestos and beryllium at Energy Department facilities in Paducah, Ky., and Oak Ridge, Tenn.

The administration's proposal does not include hundreds of Test Site workers who spent their days digging tunnels, monitoring above- and below-ground nuclear warhead explosions and recovering equipment at the facility 65 northwest of Las Vegas. The DOE listened to former Test Site workers' complaints at a February hearing.

But President Clinton has not asked for supplemental funds to cover workers under the existing law.

"The administration is being negligent in not asking for additional funding for the trust fund, particularly since it acted on its own last year through regulation to expand the number of people eligible to file claims," Domenici, author of the 1990 law, said.

"We will take a look at that fund," Reid said. He promised to work closely with Domenici to remedy the situation, perhaps with a supplemental appropriations bill developed by Congress.

"Certainly, we would ensure compensation for the victims," Bryan said.

Last year Congress approved $3.2 million for the Radiation Exposure Trust Fund and added another $2 million to administer the program.

At the same time about $8 million was available in the trust fund, which will cover approved claims until some time in June, Domenici spokeswoman Sarah Echols said.

Claims will continue to be processed and approved, but payments could be delayed until more funds become available.

Last year the Senate passed Domenici's amendments to the compensation act, reforming and expanding it. That legislation is pending in the House.

Clinton has requested $13.7 million for the program for next year, but that is $2.3 million less than the estimated need.

Since the trust fund began compensations in 1992, the Justice Department has approved 3,135 claims valued at nearly $232 million.