Enc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 

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 

ADVISORY BOARD ON RADIATION AND WORKER HEALTH
 

4676 Columbia Parkway, MS: C-46
 

Cincinnati, Ohio 45226
 

(513) 533-6825 

September 12, 2012 

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 00198 concerning 

workers at the Ventron Corporation site in Beverly, 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 Employees who worked for the Ventron 

Corporation at its facility in Beverly, Massachusetts, from 

November 1, 1942, through December 31, 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 included in the Special Exposure Cohort.” 

This recommendation is based on the following factors: 

• Individuals employed at the Ventron Corporation site in 

Beverly, Massachusetts, during the time period in question 

worked on the production and processing of uranium for use in 

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 sufficient information to allow it to 

estimate with sufficient accuracy the potential internal and 

external radiation doses from exposures to uranium, thorium, 

and uranium progeny to which employees at this facility may 

have been subjected from November 1, 1942, through 

December 31, 1948. The Board concurs with this 

determination. 

• NIOSH determined that health may have been endangered for 

these Ventron Corporation employees during the time period in 

question. The Board also concurs with this determination. 
The Secretary September 12, 2012 

Based on these considerations and the discussion during the August 15, 2012, Board 

teleconference meeting, the Board recommends that this class be added to the SEC. 

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

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