Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP)

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Division of Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation (DEEOIC)

EEOICP News Archive

• Labor Department signs interagency agreement with NIH National Library of Medicine that speeds evaluation of occupational illness claims
• Site Exposure Matrices (SEM) Now Available Online
• 12/05/06 Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security, and Claims - Shelby Hallmark Testimony

Establishing causation for specific medical conditions under the EEOICPA

To expedite the claims adjudication process under Part E, the Division of Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation (DEEOIC) has established criteria for determining causation in certain specific situations. Specialists in the field of Industrial Hygiene, Occupational Medicine and Toxicology researched authoritative scientific publications, medical literature, and industrial processes and occupational exposure records to develop accepted causal relationships between specific known medical conditions and exposure to specific toxic substances. An Occupational Illness Exposure Matrix was developed based on this research and includes specific criteria that establish a causal link between a diagnosed medical condition and toxic substance exposure. When the various elements listed in the matrix are satisfied, the Claims Examiner can accept that exposure to a listed toxic substance is at least as likely as not a significant factor in causing, contributing to or aggravating the medical illness. The matrix will be updated periodically as new conditions are researched and new presumptions are made. DEEOIC Claims Examiners were provided guidance via Bulletin 06-08.  

Illnesses that presently have no known causal link to toxic substances

While researching and developing criteria for the presumption of causation in certain specific situations, a number of claimed illnesses were identified for which the Division of Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation (DEEOIC) was unable to find scientific information demonstrating an association with exposure to toxic substances. As such, DEEOIC established criteria for handling Part E claims where there is no known relationship between certain illnesses and occupational exposure to toxic substances. Claims examiners were provided guidance via Bulletin 06-10 on handling claims of this nature to assist in rendering timely and accurate claim determinations. However, while the bulletin provides guidance relative to certain claimed medical conditions, it in no way precludes the claimant’s ability to present evidence that refutes the conclusions of the DEEOIC specialists. To challenge the scientific conclusions, compelling and probative evidence must establish that exposure to a toxic substance has been shown to cause, contribute, or aggravate an occupational illness.  

DEEOIC Final Decision Database Now Available On-line

The Division of Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation (DEEOIC) has developed an on-line database that provides access to significant precedent setting decisions issued by the Final Adjudication Branch (FAB) under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act. 

Click on the following link to obtain more information on the Final FAB Decisions database.

EEOICPA Final Decisions

Iowa and New Mexico Jurisdictional Restructuring

The administration of Parts B and E of the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act has increased the workload in all four Division of Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation’s (DEEOIC) District Offices. In order to streamline case file handling it is necessary that DEEOIC once again reorganize its jurisdictional structure along the geographical lines in place at the inception of the program. 

Implementation of Part E of the EEOICPA has markedly increased the Denver District Office’s claim volume, challenging the office’s routine delivery of excellent customer service.  Effective December 1, 2006, jurisdiction over cases arising out of employment at the Department of Energy (DOE) facilities located in the State of Iowa will be transferred from the Denver District Office to the Cleveland District Office and all cases arising out of employment at DOE facilities located in the State of New Mexico will be transferred from the Denver District Office to the Seattle District Office.  Claims related to the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) will remain in the Denver District Office.  This jurisdictional restructuring will allow DEEOIC the requisite flexibility to provide prompt claim adjudication for all claims in question. 

This jurisdictional realignment will allow for better customer service and an expedited claim adjudication process.  The jurisdictional restructuring will be a seamless transition and we do not anticipate any delays in claim adjudication as a result.  All affected claimants will receive a letter advising them of the case transfers and the information for contacting the respective district office.

The contact information for the Cleveland and Seattle District Office is as follows:

U.S. Department of Labor Assumes Responsibility For a New Energy Workers’ Compensation Program

Congress passed a major amendment to the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA) that provides federal compensation and medical benefits to contractor and subcontractor employees of the Department of Energy (DOE) who worked at certain DOE facilities and sustained an occupational injury as a result of exposure to toxic substances. Certain survivors of these workers are also eligible for benefits.

This amendment, which became effective on October 28, 2004, replaces Part D of the EEOICPA, which provided assistance from DOE in obtaining state workers’ compensation benefits. The new program, called Part E, will be administered by the Department of Labor’s Division of Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation (DEEOIC).

The amendment also makes it possible for uranium workers eligible under Section 5 of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) to receive compensation under Part E for illnesses due to toxic substance exposure at a uranium mine or mill covered under that Act.

Additional information will be forthcoming.

Iowa and Missouri Jurisdictional Restructuring

On October 28, 2004, the President signed into law an amendment to the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOIPCA) that replaces Part D of the EEOICPA with a new program called Part E. The Division of Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation (DEEOIC) will administer this new program, including all claims previously filed under Part D. The administration of Part E will increase the workload in all four DEEOIC District Offices, and in order to streamline case file handling it is necessary that DEEOIC reorganize its jurisdictional structure along the geographical lines in place at the inception of the program.

When DEEOIC commenced implementing Part B of the EEOICPA on July 31, 2001, the Denver District Office served much of the mountain and central United States, including Iowa and Missouri. On October 31, 2002, due to an ever increasing workload in the Denver District Office, it was necessary to transfer all claims arising out of Iowa and Missouri to the Seattle District Office. At the time, the Seattle District Office claim volume accommodated this change of venue.

Since that time the claim volume in the Denver District Office has stabilized and the implementation of the new Part E has increased anticipated claim volume in the Seattle District Office. Accordingly, effective March 1, 2005, the Denver District Office will again resume responsibility for all Part B and Part D/E EEOICPA claims past and present arising out of work-related illness incurred in Iowa and Missouri. This jurisdictional realignment will allow for better customer service and an expedited claim adjudication process. All claims for Iowa and Missouri workers are being transferred to the Denver District Office for future handling.

The contact information for the Denver District Office is as follows: U.S. Department of Labor 1999 Broadway, Suite 1120 P.O. Box 46550 Denver, CO 80201-6550 Phone (Local) – 720-264-3060 Phone (Toll Free) – 888-805-3389 Fax – 720-264-3099

Interim Final Regulations for Energy Workers Compensation Program Meets Congressional Deadline for Issuing Regulations