OWCP News Release: [08/14/2014]
Contact Name: Ann Mangold Jesse Lawder
Phone Number: (202) 693-4679 (202) 693-4659
Email Address: mangold.ann.r@dol.gov lawder.jesse@dol.gov
Release Number: 14-1528-DEN

Town hall meetings in Arizona on Aug. 19 and New Mexico on Aug. 20
to assist nuclear weapons workers to be hosted by US Labor Department

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor will host town hall meetings: one will be held Tuesday, Aug. 19, in Window Rock, Arizona, and the second will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 20, in Shiprock, New Mexico, to provide the public with information about the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act and the medical benefits available under that program. The EEOICPA provides compensation and medical benefits to workers who became ill as a result of working in the nuclear weapons and uranium mining industries.

Staff members in the Division of Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation’s Denver, Colorado, district office, part of the Labor Department’s Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs, will present an overview on the EEOICPA and discuss specific information concerning home health care services, and how to better serve EEOICPA claimants.

Additionally, DEEOIC’s district office staff, as well as representatives from its Espanola, New Mexico, resource center, will be available after each presentation to assist individuals with the filing of new claims under the EEOICPA and provide claimants with status updates on their existing claims.

The mission of the EEOICPA includes delivering benefits to certain uranium workers covered under Section 5 of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, administered by the U.S. Department of Justice. Uranium workers who received a $100,000 award under Section 5 of RECA are eligible to receive an additional lump sum compensation award in the amount of $50,000 and medical benefits under Part B of the EEOICPA for the same illness. Uranium workers who developed an illness as a result of exposure to toxic substances while working at a Section 5 RECA facility may also be eligible for federal compensation and medical benefits under Part E of the EEOICPA.

To date, $249.9 million in EEOICPA compensation and medical benefits has been paid to 2,561 claimants living in Arizona, $1.3 billion has been paid to 12,287 claimants living in New Mexico and more than $10.6 billion has been paid nationwide. For additional information about the upcoming town hall meetings or to schedule an appointment for claim-filing assistance, contact the Espanola resource center toll-free at 866-272-3622. The meetings are open to the public and pre-registration is not required. The information presented on each day will be the same. Space is limited and seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

ARIZONA TOWN HALL MEETING
DATE & TIME:


Tuesday, Aug. 19, 10 a.m. MDT

DISTRICT OFFICE & RESOURCES
CENTER STAFF AVAILABILITY:


10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. MDT

LOCATION:

Navajo Nation Museum
Highway 264 and Loop Road
Window Rock, AZ 86515

NEW MEXICO
TOWN HALL MEETING
DATE & TIME:



Wednesday, Aug. 20, 10 a.m. MDT

DISTRICT OFFICE & RESOURCE
CENTER STAFF AVAILABILITY:


10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. MDT

LOCATION:

Phil L. Thomas Performing Arts Center
State Route 504
Shiprock, NM 87420

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