March 5, 2010

The Honorable Kathleen Sebelius

Secretary 

Department of Health and Human Services

200 Independence Avenue, S.W.

Washington, D.C. 20201

Dear Madam Secretary:

The Advisory Board on Radiation and Worker Health (The Board) has 

evaluated SEC Petition-00156 concerning workers at the Santa Susana 

Field Laboratory – Area IV under the statutory requirements established 

by EEOICPA and incorporated into 42 CFR Sec. 83.14. The Board 

respectfully recommends Special Exposure Cohort (SEC) status be 

accorded to all employees of the Department of Energy, its predecessor 

agencies, and their contractors or subcontractors who worked in any area 

of Area IV of the Santa Susana Field Laboratory from January 1, 1959

through December 31, 1964, for a number of work days aggregating at 

least 250 work days, occurring either solely under this employment or in 

combination with work days within the parameters established for one or 

more other classes of employees included in the Special Exposure 

Cohort. 

This recommendation is based on the following factors:

• The Santa Susana – Area IV facility was involved in the 

development and testing of nuclear reactors and related research. 

• NIOSH found that there was insufficient monitoring data or 

information on radiological operations at this facility in order to be 

able to complete accurate individual dose reconstructions 

involving internal radiation exposures for Area IV workers during 

the time period in question. The Board concurs with this 

conclusion.

• NIOSH determined that health may have been endangered for the 

workers exposed to radiation in Area IV during the time period in 

question. The Board concurs with this determination.

ADVISORY BOARD ON RADIATION AND WORKER HEALTH

4676 Columbia Parkway, MS: C-46 

Cincinnati, Ohio 45226

(513) 533-6825

CHAIRMAN

James M. Melius, M.D., Dr. PH. 

 Albany, New York

MEMBERS

Henry Anderson, M.D.

 Madison, Wisconsin

Josie Beach

 Kennewick, Washington 

Bradley P. Clawson

 Rexburg, Idaho

R. William Field, Ph.D. 

 Iowa City, Iowa

Michael H. Gibson

 Franklin, Ohio

Mark A. Griffon

 Salem, New Hampshire

Richard Lemen, Ph.D.

 Canton, Georgia

James E. Lockey, M.D.

 Cincinnati, Ohio

Wanda I. Munn

 Richland, Washington

John W. Poston, Sr., Ph.D.

 College Station, Texas

Robert W. Presley

 Seymour, Tennessee

David B. Richardson, Ph.D.

Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Genevieve S. Roessler, Ph.D.

 Elysian, Minnesota

Phillip Schofield

 Bosque Farm, New Mexico

Paul L. Ziemer, Ph.D.

 Lafayette, Indiana

STAFF

EXECUTIVE SECRETARY

Theodore M. Katz, MPA

 Atlanta, Georgia

COMMITTEE MANAGEMENT 

Zaida Burgos

 Atlanta, Georgia
The Honorable Kathleen Sebelius Page 2

Based on these considerations and the discussions held at our February 9-11, 2010 Advisory 

Board meeting in Manhattan Beach, California, the Board recommends that this SEC petition be 

granted. 

Enclosed is the documentation from the Board meeting(s) where this SEC class was discussed. 

The documentation includes transcripts of the deliberations, copies of the petition, the NIOSH 

review thereof, and related materials. If any of these items are unavailable at this time, they will 

follow shortly. 

Sincerely,

[Signature on file]

 

James M. Melius, M.D., Dr. PH

Chairman, ABRWH

Enclosure