Enc. 

ADVISORY BOARD ON RADIATION AND WORKER HEALTH

4676 Columbia Parkway, MS: C-46 

Cincinnati, Ohio 45226

(513) 533-6825

November 16, 2009 

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 00126 concerning workers at the Piqua 

Organic Moderated Reactor in Piqua, Ohio, 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 

42CFR Sec. 83.13 (c)(3). The Board respectfully recommends Special 

Exposure Cohort (SEC) designation be accorded to all employees of the 

Department of Energy (DOE), its predecessor agencies, and its contractors and 

subcontractors who worked at the Piqua Organic Moderated Reactor in Piqua, 

Ohio, during the covered period from May 2, 1966 through February 28, 1969, 

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 Piqua Organic Moderated Reactor site is a DOE covered facility from 

January 1, 1963 through 1969, and served as a facility involved with nuclear 

reactor activities. 

 NIOSH found that based on the absence of internal monitoring data and the 

exposure potential during the post-operational period, it is not feasible to 

estimate radiation dose of all members of the NIOSH evaluated class with 

sufficient accuracy for the entire evaluated class of employees from May 2, 

1966 to February 28, 1969. The Board concurs with this conclusion. 

 NIOSH determined that health may have been endangered for the workers 

exposed to radiation during the time period in question. The Board concurs 

with this determination. 

 

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 Secretary November 16, 2009 

Based on these considerations and the discussions held at our October 20 to 22, 2009, 

Advisory Board meeting in Port Jefferson, New York the Board recommends that Special 

Exposure Cohort status be granted. 

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] 

 Paul L. Ziemer, Ph.D. 

 Chairman, ABRWH 

Enclosure