OWCP News Release: [11/27/2012]
Contact Name: Adriano Llosa Jesse Lawder
Phone Number: (202) 693-4686 (202) 693-4659
Email Address: llosa.adriano.t@dol.gov lawder.jesse@dol.gov
Release Number: 12-2344-DAL
US Department of Labor to host meetings in New Mexico and Arizona to assist nuclear weapons workers
Farmington, NM, meetings Dec. 4; Kayenta, Ariz., meetings Dec. 5
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor will host two meetings on Tuesday, Dec. 4, in Farmington, N.M., and two meetings on Wednesday, Dec. 5, in Kayenta, Ariz., to provide information about the medical benefits provided under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act. The EEOICPA provides compensation and medical benefits to employees who became ill as a result of working in the nuclear weapons industry.
At the meetings, specific information will be discussed concerning home health care services, the Privacy Act and how to better serve EEOICPA claimants. Staff from the department’s Traveling Resource Center will also be available before and after the meetings to assist individuals submitting new claims under the EEOICPA as well as to provide claimants with status updates on their claims.
On July 31, 2001, the Labor 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 U.S. Department of Energy, that department’s contractors 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 as a result of exposure to toxic substances. The EEOICPA also provides additional compensation for uranium workers who worked at facilities covered by Section 5 of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, which is administered by the U.S. Department of Justice.
To date, $966.9 million in EEOICPA compensation medical benefits has been paid to 10,101 claimants living in New Mexico and $195.1 million has been paid to 2,288 claimants living in Arizona. More than $8.7 billion has been paid nationwide.
For additional information about the upcoming meetings or to schedule an appointment for claim-filing assistance, contact the department’s Espanola Resource Center toll-free at 866-272-3622. These meetings are open to the public, and pre-registration is not required.
| MEETING LOCATION: | FARMINGTON, N.M. |
| DATE & TIMES: | Tuesday, Dec. 4, 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. MST |
| TRAVELING RESOURCE |
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| LOCATION: | Courtyard by Marriot |
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| MEETING LOCATION: | KAYENTA, ARIZ. |
| DATE & TIMES: | Wednesday, Dec. 5, 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. MST |
| TRAVELING RESOURCE |
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| LOCATION: | Hampton Inn Kayenta |
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