CHAIRMAN 

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

 Albany, New York 

MEMBERS 

Henry AndersEon,n Mc..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 

ADVISORY BOARD ON RADIATION AND WORKER HEALTH
 

4676 Columbia Parkway, MS: C-46 

Cincinnati, Ohio 45226
 

(513) 533-6825 

September 14, 2011 

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 

Special Exposure Cohort (SEC) Petition 00177 concerning workers at the Vitro 

Manufacturing facility in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, under the statutory 

requirements established by the Energy Employees Occupational Illness 

Compensation Program Act of 2000 (EEOICPA) and incorporated into 42 CFR 

Sec. 83.13. 

The Board respectfully recommends that SEC status be accorded to: 

"All Atomic Weapons Employees who worked at Vitro Manufacturing in 

Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, from January 1, 1960 through September 

30, 1965, 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 Vitro Manufacturing facility was involved in early uranium 

processing work for the manufacture of atomic weapons. 

•	 The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) 

evaluation found that there were insufficient data to complete 

individual dose reconstructions with sufficient accuracy for potential 

occupational exposures to uranium products and uranium progeny 

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

determination. 

•	 NIOSH determined that health may have been endangered for the 

workers exposed to radiation during the time period in question. The 

Board also concurs with this determination. 

Based on these considerations and the discussion at the August 23-25, 2011 

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

class be added to the SEC. 
 

 

 

 

 

The Secretary September 14, 2011 

Enclosed is the documentation from the Board meeting(s) where this Special Exposure Cohort 

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