Enc.

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

Mark A. Griffon

 Salem, New Hampshire

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

June 9, 2014

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 00195 concerning 

workers at the facility owned by Nuclear Metals, Inc. (or a subsequent 

owner) in West Concord, Massachusetts, under the statutory 

requirements established by the Energy Employees Occupational Illness 

Compensation Program Act of 2000 and incorporated into 42 C.F.R. § 

83.13. 

The Board respectfully recommends that SEC status be accorded to: 

“All Atomic Weapons Employees who worked at the facility owned 

by Nuclear Metals, Inc. (or a subsequent owner) in West Concord, 

Massachusetts, during the period from January 1, 1980, through 

December 31, 1990, 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 West Concord, 

Massachusetts, 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 and thorium progeny to which 

these workers may have been subjected during the time period in 

question. The Board concurs with this determination. 

• 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.
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Based on these considerations and the discussion at the April 29, 2014, Board meeting held in 

Augusta, Georgia, the Board recommends that this class be added to the SEC. 

Enclosed is the documentation from the Board meeting(s) where this proposed 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