Additional funds approved for nuclear workers

Thursday, Oct. 16, 2003 | 9:44 a.m.

Congress has authorized $9.7 million for the Department of Energy to speed up benefits for contract employees -- including Nevada Test Site employees -- who became ill as a result of their work on nuclear weapons.

The additional funding approved on Wednesday is intended to accelerate the processing of applications submitted to the DOE by workers of government contractors under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act, passed by Congress in 2000.

The section of the act covered by the additional funds assists former contract workers in applying for state workers compensation. The DOE compiles employee health and medical records. An independent physician panel reviews the employee's work and medical history, determining if on-the-job toxic exposure contributed to illnesses. Once verified, the DOE assists employees filing claims to the states.

Ten resource centers have been set up by the Energy Department and the Department of Labor near DOE facilities across the country to help workers -- including 1,680 in Nevada -- file claims and gather work history information and other work-related records necessary to file a claim for review.

So far, 711 claims in Nevada have been investigated and another 142 have been paid.

The department has also mobilized traveling resource centers assisting workers in 18 other locations nationwide.

Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham sent his thanks to the lawmakers who worked on the fund transfer, including Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev.

"Providing more resources to the department will allow us to process workers' claims more efficiently," Abraham said.

Reid said the workers at the Nevada Test Site, which is located 65 miles northwest of Las Vegas, "are heroes of the Cold War. They risked their health, and sometimes their lives, to keep our country safe. We can never really repay our debt to them, but we can -- and must -- make sure they are fairly compensated for their suffering. This money will help honor their service. I am very happy to hear the DOE is now making this funding available."

Former contract workers who worked for the DOE or its predecessor, the Atomic Energy Commission, or their survivors are eligible to file claims.

Separately, the Department of Labor administers another part of the law that provides $150,000 and payment of medical expenses for each employee who became ill with cancer or diseases after exposure to radiation, beryllium or silica at nuclear weapons facilities. If the employee is dead, his survivors can collect the money.