US Labor Department to participate in town hall meetings
in Bridgeton, Missouri, to assist nuclear weapons workers

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor and other federal agencies will host two town hall meetings on June 16 and 17 in Bridgeton, Missouri. The meetings will provide current and former nuclear weapons employees who worked at 11 covered facilities in Missouri with information regarding benefits available to them under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act.

Administered by the Division of Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation, the EEOICPA is part of the department's Office of Workers' Compensation Programs. It provides lump-sum compensation and medical benefits to current and former nuclear weapons workers. Survivors of qualified workers may also be entitled to benefits.

The town hall meetings are being hosted by the Joint Outreach Task Group, which includes DEEOIC, the U.S. Department of Energy and its Former Worker Medical Screening Program, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and the Ombudsman to NIOSH for the EEOICPA — Part B, and the Labor Department's Office of the Ombudsman for the EEOICPA. The meetings will include DEEOIC staff overviews of Parts B and E of the EEOICPA, and audience question-and-answer sessions.

Representatives from DEEOIC's Denver district office and Paducah resource center will be available before and after each meeting to help individuals file new EEOICPA claims, and to provide updates on existing 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, a DOE contractor or subcontractor, a designated Atomic Weapons Employer or a beryllium vendor.

Created by an amendment to the EEOICPA on Oct. 28, 2004, Part E 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.

Covered facilities in Missouri include: Kansas City Plant, Kansas City; Latty Avenue Properties, Hazelwood; Mallinckrodt Chemical Co., Destrehan St. Plant, St. Louis; Medart Co., St. Louis; Roger Iron Co., Joplin; St. Louis Airport Storage Site, St. Louis; Tyson Valley Powder Farm, St. Louis; United Nuclear Corp., Hematite; Weldon Spring Plant, Weldon Spring; Weldon Spring Quarry, Weldon Spring; and Weldon Spring Raffinate Pits; Weldon Spring. A searchable list of covered facilities is available at https://ehss.energy.gov/Search/Facility/findfacility.aspx

To date, $183.9 million in EEOICPA compensation and medical benefits has been paid to 1,728 claimants living in Missouri, while more than $11.4 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 Paducah resource center toll free at 866-534-0599. These meetings are open to the public and pre-registration is not required. The same presentation will be given each day. Space is limited and seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Meeting Location: The International Union of Operating Engineers Hall — Local 513 3449 Hollenberg Drive Bridgeton, MO 63044

Dates & Times: Tuesday, June 16, 6 p.m. CDT Wednesday, June 17, 10 a.m. CDT