March 3, 2009

The Honorable Charles E. Johnson 

Acting Secretary of Health and Human Services 

Department of Health and Human Services 

200 Independence Avenue, S.W. 

Washington, D.C. 20201 

Dear Mr. Secretary: 

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

evaluated Special Exposure Cohort (SEC) Petition 0115 concerning workers 

at the Tyson Valley Powder Farm in St. Louis, Missouri, under the statutory 

requirements established by the Energy Employees Occupational Illness 

Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA) and incorporated into 42 CFR Sec. 

83.13 (c)(1) and 42 CFR Sec. 83.13 (c)(3). The Board respectfully 

recommends Special Exposure Cohort (SEC) status be accorded to All 

Atomic Weapons Employer (AWE) employees who worked at Tyson Valley 

Powder Farm near Eureka, Missouri, from February 13, 1946 through June 

30, 1948, 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 in the SEC. 

The Board notes that although National Institute for Occupational Safety and 

Health (NIOSH) found that they were unable to completely reconstruct 

radiation doses for these employees, they believe that they are able to 

reconstruct the occupational medical doses and portions of the external 

radiation dose. 

This recommendation is based on the following factors: 

• The purpose of Tyson Valley Powder Farm was to meet the need for a 

large ammunition depot and testing facility during World War II. The 

primary function of the site was to receive, store, issue, and test 

explosives, small arms ammunition, 105-mm projectiles, and chemicals 

commonly used in tracers and incendiaries. The only buildings of interest 

for this report are five igloos (Igloos 48, 49, 50, 51, 52), which likely stored 

radioactive material. NIOSH did not find any evidence of other areas at 

Tyson Valley Powder Farm being used for radioactive material storage or 

operations. 

ADVISORY BOARD ON RADIATION AND WORKER HEALTH

4676 Columbia Parkway, MS: C-46 

Cincinnati, Ohio 45226

(513) 533-6825

CHAIRMAN:

Paul L. Ziemer, Ph.D. 

 Lafayette, Indiana 

MEMBERS:

Josie Beach 

 Richland, Washington 

Bradley P. Clawson 

 Rexburg, Idaho 

Michael H. Gibson 

 Franklin, Ohio 

Mark A. Griffon 

 Salem, New Hampshire 

James E. Lockey, M.D. 

 Cincinnati, Ohio 

James M. Melius, M.D., Ph.D. 

 Albany, New York 

Wanda I. Munn 

 Richland, Washington 

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

 College Station, Texas 

Robert W. Presley 

 Seymour, Tennessee 

Genevieve S. Roessler, Ph.D. 

 Elysian, Minnesota 

Phillip Schofield 

 Bosque Farm, New Mexico 

STAFF:

EXECUTIVE SECRETARY:

Theodore M. Katz, MPA 

 Atlanta, Georgia 

COMMITTEE MANAGEMENT :

Zaida Burgos 

 Atlanta, Georgia 
The Honorable Charles E. Johnson March 3, 2009

• NIOSH was unable to locate any internal or external monitoring records for the period under 

evaluation. The Board concurs with this conclusion. 

• NIOSH determined that health may have been endangered for the workers exposed to 

radiation at this facility during the time period in question. The Board concurs with this 

determination. 

Based on these considerations, and on the discussions and deliberations at our February 18, 

2009 Board meeting, the Board recommends that this Special Exposure Cohort petition be 

granted. 

Enclosed is supporting documentation from the recent Advisory Board Meeting held in 

Albuquerque, New Mexico, where this Special Exposure Cohort class was discussed. The 

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

review thereof, and related documents distributed by NIOSH. If any of these items are 

unavailable at this time, they will follow shortly. 

 Sincerely, 

 

 Paul L. Ziemer, Ph.D. 

 Chair 

Enclosure 

 

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