The federal Labor Department is hosting three public meetings next week in Los Alamos, Santa Fe and Albuquerque to explain procedures for filing claims and determining compensation eligibility under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act.
The meetings are as follows:
* 6 p.m., Tuesday (June 14), Duane Smith Auditorium, Los Alamos High School
* 1 p.m., Wednesday (June 15), Sweeney Convention Center, 201 W. Marcy St., Santa Fe
* 7 p.m., June 16, Hilton of Albuquerque, 1901 University Blvd., Albuquerque.
The Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act was created by Congress to provide compensation and medical benefits to current or former civilian employees who worked at certain government or privately owned facilities where atomic weapons were produced or tested.
Amendments eliminated Part D of the act and created Part E, which provides benefits to contractor and subcontractor employees who worked at certain government owned facilities where atomic weapons were produced and developed an occupational illness as a result of exposure to toxic substances. While the amount of compensation varies under this program, most employees found to have a work related illness will receive a federal payment and medical benefits for the treatment of the covered condition. Survivors of deceased employees are eligible to receive compensation if it is shown that the employee's death was linked to exposure to toxic material at their place of employment.
Part E also provides additional compensation for uranium workers covered by the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act and for certain survivors of covered employees.
For more information, call (505) 747-6766 or toll free 1-866-272-3622.
