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ESA News Release: [01/11/2005]
Contact Name:
Yvonne Ralsky or Dolline Hatchett
Phone Number: (202) 693-4666 or x4651
Release Number: 05-0018-NAT
Department of Labor Expedites 100 Claims
Under New Energy Workers’ Compensation Program
More than $1 Billion in Compensation and Medical Benefits Already Paid by Labor Department
WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of Labor is moving swiftly to
pay claims and benefits under a program established by the Energy Employees
Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act's (EEOICPA) new “Part E” passed
by Congress last year. The department announced today that nearly 100 claims
will be approved for payment and distributed within the next month.
“These workers were harmed in service to our country and compensation to
them and their families is long overdue,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine
L. Chao. “We are working very hard to ensure that this program is up and
running as quickly as possible and these workers receive the compensation
they are due.”
In October of 2004, the President signed into law an amendment to the EEOICPA
that created this new “Part E” program, administered by the Department of
Labor, to provide federal compensation and medical benefits to contractors
and subcontractors, or their survivors, who worked at certain Department
of Energy facilities and sustained an occupational injury as a result
of exposure to toxic substances. This new Department of Labor program replaces
one formerly administered by the Department of Energy.
While many Part E entitlement provisions will be set forth in final regulations
expected to be published in late-spring, the preliminary procedures allow
the Department of Labor to quickly process the most straightforward claims
and issue payments.
Over the past four years of administering Part B of the EEOICPA, the Department
of Labor has issued more than $1 billion in compensation and medical payments
to approximately 12,800 claimants. Part B provides a lump sum payment of
$150,000 in addition to medical expenses for current and former Energy Department
employees who became ill as a result of their exposure to radiation, beryllium
or silica. Energy Department contractor employees (and certain survivors)
are also potentially eligible. Covered conditions include radiogenic cancers,
beryllium diseases and chronic silicosis. Qualified survivors of deceased
covered employees may also be eligible for the lump sum compensation of $150,000.
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