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ESA News Release: [03/07/2003]
Office of Workers' Compensation Programs
Contact Name:Quinta Buker
Phone Number:202-693-0399
Release Number:
Traveling Resource Center to Serve Nuclear Workers in the Pinellas Area Planned for Week of April 14
ATLANTA, GA. — A joint U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Traveling Resource Center will visit the Clearwater/St. Petersburg area during the week of April 14. Representatives will be on hand to provide information or to assist individuals in filing claims under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA).
The Clearwater/St. Petersburg area is home to the Pinellas Plant, a covered DOE facility. Other DOE facilities, Atomic Weapons Employer (AWE) or Beryllium Vendor (BE) facilities in Florida include American Beryllium Company (BE), Sarasota; Armour Fertilizer Works (AWE), Bartow; Gardinier Inc.(AWE), Tampa; International Minerals and Chemical Corp. (AWE), Mulberry; University of Florida (AWE), Gainesville; Virginia-Carolina Chemical Corp. (AWE), Nichols and W.R. Grace Co., Agriculture Chemical Div. (AWE), Ridgewood.
DOL and DOL officials will present an overview of the program and provide interested workers an opportunity to ask questions at two Town Hall Meetings on Monday, April 14, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the Radisson Hotel and Conference Center. Workers who need help filling out claim forms can also schedule appointments at the Traveling Resource Center by calling, toll-free, (866) 666-4606, or dropping in during the hours listed below.
TIME AND DATE:
Town Hall Meeting - Monday April 14, 2:00 p.m.; 7:00 p.m.
Claims Assistance - Tuesday - Thursday, April 15-17,
8:30 a.m. 6:00 p.m.
LOCATION:
Radisson Hotel and Conference Center
12600 Roosevelt Boulevard, St. Petersburg, FL 33716
(727) 572-7800
The EEOICPA became effective July 31, 2001 and provides two different types of assistance.
The Department of Labor administers the program that provides up to $150,000 and payment of medical expenses for current and former DOE employees and DOE contractor employees or their qualified survivors who became ill by their exposure to radiation, beryllium or silica. Covered conditions include radiogenic cancers, beryllium diseases and chronic silicosis.
The Department of Energy program helps DOE contractor employees apply for state workers compensation benefits, if it is determined by an independent physicians panel that the worker sustained an illness caused by exposure to a toxic substance at a DOE facility. Benefits for successful claimants vary from state to state, but are generally a portion of lost wages plus reimbursement of medical costs.
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