DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES Public Health Service
NIOSH Tracking Number: NIOSH Claim ID Energy Employee: EE Name | National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Robert A. Taft Laboratories 4676 Columbia Parkway Cincinnati, OH 45226-1998 Phone: 513-533-8423 Fax: 513-533-6840 |
Name December 3, 2007
Address
City, State, Zip, Country
Dear:
As you may know, a petition to add a class of former employees at the Ames Laboratory, Ames, Iowa, to the Special Exposure Cohort (SEC) under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA) was received by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). This letter is to provide you with information on the status of this petition and the effect this petition may have on your claim.
On September 12, 2007, the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Michael Leavitt, designated the following class for addition to the SEC in a report to Congress:
Sheet metal workers, physical plant maintenance and associated support staff (including all maintenance shop personnel), and supervisory staff who were monitored or should have been monitored for potential internal radiation exposures associated with the maintenance and renovation activities of the thorium production areas in Wilhelm Hall (a.k.a. the Metallurgy Building or “Old” Metallurgy Building) at the Ames Laboratory from January 1, 1955, through December 31, 1970, for a number of work days aggregating at least 250 work days or in combination with work days within the parameters established for one or more other classes of employees in the Special Exposure Cohort.
Since Congress did not take any action within 30 days of the submission of this report, this designation became effective on October 12, 2007.
This letter is to let you know that your claim for benefits under EEOICPA may be affected by this new designation. Our records indicate that you, or the energy employee on the claim, worked at the Ames Laboratory, Ames, Iowa, during the period from January 1, 1955 through December 31, 1970 and were diagnosed with an SEC-specified cancer.
All decisions regarding your status as a member of the SEC, and any resulting action on your EEOICPA claim, will be made by the Department of Labor (DOL). We have sent a list of all claims that are with NIOSH awaiting completion of a dose reconstruction that appear to involve employment at Ames Laboratory during the period from January 1, 1955 through December 31, 1970 and an SEC-specified cancer to DOL for their review. Employment during this period and type of cancer are only two of the factors that DOL must consider to establish membership in the SEC. You will be informed of the results of this review when it is complete.
I hope this information is helpful. Should you have any further questions about the SEC process, or eligibility requirements for the new class of employees that has been added to the SEC, you should contact NIOSH at 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636; please press 1 to speak with an operator) or e-mail us at ocas@cdc.gov. Additional information on NIOSH activities under EEOICPA can also be found at our website www.cdc.gov/niosh/ocas.
Larry Elliott
Director,
Office of Compensation, Analysis, and Support
(800) 232-4636
Representatives