Enc.

ADVISORY BOARD ON RADIATION AND WORKER HEALTH

1150 Tusculum Ave

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

David Kotelchuck, Ph.D.

 New York, New York

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

David B. Richardson, Ph.D.

Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Genevieve S. Roessler, Ph.D.

 Elysian, Minnesota

Phillip Schofield

 Bosque Farm, New Mexico

Loretta R. Valerio

 Santa Fe, New Mexico

Paul L. Ziemer, Ph.D.

 Lafayette, Indiana

STAFF

EXECUTIVE SECRETARY

Theodore M. Katz, MPA

 Atlanta, Georgia

COMMITTEE MANAGEMENT 

Zaida Burgos

 Atlanta, Georgia

April 22, 2015

The Honorable Sylvia M. Burwell

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 Special Exposure Cohort (SEC) Petition 00175 

concerning workers at the Grand Junction Facilities site in Grand 

Junction, Colorado, under the statutory requirements established by 

the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation 

Program Act of 2000 and incorporated into 42 CFR Sec. 83.13. 

The Board respectfully recommends that SEC status be accorded 

to: 

“All employees of the Department of Energy, its 

predecessor agencies, and its contractors and 

subcontractors who worked at the Grand Junction 

Facilities site in Grand Junction, Colorado, during the 

period from February 1, 1975, through December 31, 

1985, 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: 

• Individuals employed at this facility in Grand Junction, 

Colorado, during the time period in question worked on 

research and production for materials used in the production 

of nuclear weapons. 

• The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health 

(NIOSH) review of available monitoring data, as well as 

available process and source term information for this facility 

found that NIOSH lacked the sufficient information necessary 

to complete individual dose reconstructions with sufficient 

accuracy for internal radiological exposures to thorium, 

uranium, and their progeny to which these workers may have 

been subjected during the time period in question. The Board 

concurs with this determination. 
Page 2

• NIOSH determined that health may have been endangered for 

employees at this facility during the time period in question. The 

Board also concurs with this determination.

Based on these considerations and the discussion at the March 25 and 26, 2015 Board 

meeting held in Richland, Washington, the Board recommends that this class be added 

to the SEC. 

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

discussed. The documentation includes 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.

Based on these considerations and the discussion at the March 25 and 26, 2015, 

Board meeting held in Richland, Washington, the Board recommends that this class be 

added to the SEC. 

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

discussed. The documentation includes 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