News Release: US Department of Labor to host town hall meetings in Attleboro, Mass., on June 18, 2014, and Cromwell, Conn., on June 19, 2014, to assist nuclear weapons workers [06/09/2014]

OWCP News Release: [06/09/2014]
Contact Name: Ted Fitzgerald Ann Mangold
Phone Number: (617) 565-2075 (202) 693-4679
Email Address: fitzgerald.edmund@dol.gov mangold.ann.r@dol.gov
Release Number: 14-1079-BOS

US Department of Labor to host town hall meetings in Attleboro, Mass., on June 18, 2014, and Cromwell, Conn., on June 19, 2014, to assist nuclear weapons workers

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor will host two town hall meetings on Wednesday, June 18, in Attleboro, Mass., and Thursday, June 19, in Cromwell, Conn., to notify current and former nuclear weapons employees who worked at 33 covered facilities in southern New England about the benefits available to them under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act.

“We believe there are many current and former nuclear weapons workers living in southern New England who are eligible for monetary compensation and medical benefits, but who have yet to file a claim. Our goal is to inform these individuals about the program and to assist them with obtaining the compensation and medical benefits to which they are entitled. We encourage anyone interested in filing a claim or learning more about the EEOICPA to attend the upcoming town hall meetings or contact our New York Resource Center at 800-941-3943,” said Division of Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Director Rachel P. Leiton.

The program, which is administered by the DEEOIC, part of the department’s Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs, provides lump-sum compensation and medical benefits to eligible U.S. Department of Energy nuclear weapons workers, including employees, former employees, contractors and subcontractors. Survivors of qualified workers may be entitled to benefits. Officials will present an overview of Parts B and E of the EEOICPA and discuss the medical benefits available to approved claimants.

To date, $65.7 million in EEOICPA compensation and medical benefits has been paid to 722 individuals living in Massachusetts, $26.8 million has been paid to 250 individuals living in Connecticut and $11 million has been paid to 102 individuals living in Rhode Island, while $10.4 billion has been paid nationwide.

Covered facilities in Massachusetts include the following: American Potash & Chemical Co., West Hanover; C.G. Sargent & Sons Co., Graniteville; Chapman Valve Manufacturing Co., Indian Orchard; Edgerton Germeshausen & Grier Inc., Boston; Fenwal Inc., Ashland; Franklin Institute, Boston; Heald Machine Co., Worcester; Hood Building, Cambridge; La Pointe Machine and Tool Co., Hudson; Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge; Metals and Controls Corp., Attleboro; National Research Corp., Cambridge; Norton Co., Worcester; Nuclear Metals Inc., West Concord; Reed Rolled Thread Co., Worcester; Shpack Landfill, Norton; Ventron Corp., Beverly; Winchester Engineering and Analytical Center, Winchester; Woburn Landfill, Woburn; and Wyman Gordon Inc., Grafton.

Covered facilities in Connecticut include the following: American Chain and Cable Co., Bridgeport; Anaconda Co., Waterbury; Bridgeport Brass Co., Havens Laboratory, Bridgeport; Combustion Engineering, Windsor; Connecticut Aircraft Nuclear Engine Laboratory, Middletown; Dorr Corp., Stamford; Fenn Machinery Co., Hartford; Machlett Laboratories, Springdale; New England Lime Co., Canaan; Seymour Specialty Wire, Seymour; Sperry Products Inc., Danbury; and Torrington Co., Torrington.

The covered facility in Rhode Island is C.I. Hayes Inc., Cranston. A searchable list of covered facilities is available at https://hsspublic.energy.gov/search/facility/findfacility.aspx.

On July 31, 2001, the department began administering Part B of the EEOICPA. Part B covers current and former workers who have been diagnosed with cancer, beryllium disease or silicosis, and whose illness was caused by exposure to radiation, beryllium or silica while working directly for the DOE, that department’s contractor or subcontractors, a designated Atomic Weapons Employer or a beryllium vendor. Part E, created by an amendment to the EEOICPA on Oct. 28, 2004, provides federal compensation and medical benefits to DOE contractors and subcontractors who worked at covered facilities and sustained an illness because of exposure to toxic substances.

Staff from DEEOIC’s Cleveland District Office and New York Resource Center will be available for extended hours on June 18-19 to assist individuals with filing new claims under the EEOICPA and to provide updates on existing claims. These meetings are open to the public and preregistration is not required.

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