EEOICPA CIRCULAR NO. 08-02 November 1, 2007
SUBJECT: This Circular clarifies coverage for the General Steel Industries facility in Granite City, Illinois.
A recent review of documentation pertaining to General Steel Industries in Granite City, Illinois has resulted in additional information regarding the location of this designated atomic weapons employer (AWE). The address of the AWE known as “General Steel Industries” is 1417 State Street in Granite City, Illinois. The building at 1417 State Street is part of what was later known as Granite City Steel’s “South Plant.” For a claim to receive consideration under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA), it must be established that the employee worked at the 1417 State Street address, or within the South Plant generally.
General Steel Industries performed weapons-related work from 1953 to 1966. During that period, however, “Granite City Steel” coexisted as a separate company in Granite City, IL. This has led to some confusion because Granite City Steel is shown as an “also known as” name for this AWE. The purpose of this circular is to clarify the facility definition by providing specific information about the address of the AWE, which was not previously identified. This circular is for clarification purposes only and does not change actual EEOICPA coverage for this facility in any way.
This particular General Steel Industries plant ceased operations in 1972 and was then purchased by Granite City Steel. Granite City Steel was itself a subsidiary of National Steel Corporation. Since Granite City Steel and National Steel Corporation are “subsequent owners or operators” of the 1417 State Street AWE facility (which had residual radioactive contamination until remediation in 1993), they are validly characterized under the category of “also known as.” To be an AWE employee, the worker must have been employed by and at General Steel Industries or employed by a subsequent owner/operator (Granite City Steel) at the General Steel Industries’ location at 1417 State Street.
Granite City Steel’s other plant in Granite City is not covered. Its location is variously described as being on 20th or 21st Streets because 20th Street serves as the major transportation route to the plant, but it also has a Madison Street address.
PETER M. TURCIC
Director, Division of Energy Employees
Occupational Illness Compensation
Distribution List No. 1: Claims Examiners, Supervisory Claims Examiners, Technical Assistants, Customer Service Representatives, Fiscal Officers, FAB District Managers, Operation Chiefs, Hearing Representatives, District Office Mail & File Section