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

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

March 28, 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 00173 concerning workers at the 

Norton Company in Worcester, Massachusetts, 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 Employer employees who worked at the Norton 

Company (or a subsequent owner) in Worcester Massachusetts, from January 

1, 1958 through October 10, 1962, 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 SEC.

This recommendation is based on the following factors:

• The Norton Company performed research and manufactured several 

products under contract with the Atomic Energy Commission.

• 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 internal and external 

exposures during the decontamination and decommissioning activities 

that took place 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 February 23-25, 2011 

Board meeting held in Augusta, Georgia, the Board recommends that this class 

be added to the SEC.
The Secretary March 28, 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