U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

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OPA Press Release: Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao Announces New Resource Centers For Energy Workers

PADUCAH, Ky. - After touring the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant today, Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao announced that the Department will open resource centers across the country to notify energy workers of available benefits under a new program for workers who have been exposed to radiation.

"My sole concern is for the workers who have been wronged by their government in the service of their country," Chao said. "They not only gave their labor-many of them gave their health.

"We are striving to have the energy workers' compensation program up and running as quickly as possible in an attempt to meet the statutory deadline. We will be opening a Paducah resource center to help workers and families know about the benefits that may be available and to file their claims. We will open at least nine centers throughout the country."

Chao visited the Paducah plant today to see the facility and the cleanup effort first-hand. She also met with local union leaders and families who have been affected by workers' radiation exposure.

The Labor Department's nationwide outreach program will include the resource centers, a toll-free call center, a Website with downloadable claim forms, site visits, and a Department of Labor team to consult with the Department of Energy in its continuing former workers' program.

The Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act provides compensation and medical benefits for workers suffering from specified illnesses as a result of their exposure to radiation, beryllium, or silica. Statutory provisions become effective July 31, 2001.

The other resource center sites include: Hanford, Wash.; Oak Ridge, Tenn.; Savannah River, S.C.; Los Alamos, N.M.; Nevada Test Site, Nev.; Portsmouth, Ohio; Rocky Flats, Colo.; and Idaho National Engineering Laboratory, Idaho.

Secretary Chao also announced that the Labor Department will expand existing DOL workers' compensation offices in Seattle, Wash.; Denver, Colo.; Cleveland, Ohio and Jacksonville, Fla., to adjudicate and maintain cases under this new compensation program. Drawing upon existing workers' compensations offices will take advantage of existing infrastructure and experienced claims staff in order to expedite start-up of the program.