US Labor Department to host town hall meetings in Texas
to assist current and former nuclear weapons workers

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor along with other federal agencies will host two town hall meetings on July 23 in Amarillo, Texas. The meetings will provide current and former nuclear weapons workers, including those employed at the Pantex Plant, 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 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 the Espanola resource center will be available before each meeting and after its end to help individuals file new EEOICPA claims, and to provide updates on existing claims.

On July 31, 2001, the U.S. Labor Department began administering Part B of the EEOICPA. Part B covers current and former workers 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 Oct. 28, 2004, amendment to EEOICPA, 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.

To date, 1,291 Pantex Plant claimants have received $163.1 million in EEOICPA compensation and medical benefits, with more than $11.6 billion paid nationwide to all eligible beneficiaries.

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. These meetings are open to the public and pre-registration is not required. The same presentation will be given at each meeting. Space is limited and seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Meeting Location: Ashmore Inn and Suites 2301 East I-40 Amarillo, Texas 79104

Dates & Times: Thursday, July 23, 2015 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. CDT