NIOSH Dose Reconstruction Project 

Introductory Meeting on 

Development of Site Profile 

For Argonne National Laboratory-East 

Final Meeting Minutes 1 of 3 10/27/2005 

Meeting Date: 

June 2, 2005, 3:45 p.m. 

Meeting with: 

International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), Local Lodge 742 

(Machinists) 

Attendees: 

Name Organization Name Organization 

Joe Pluger IAMAW District 55 Tadeusz Kapusta IAM Lodge 742 

W. F. Prucnal IAM Lodge 742 Frank Smagacz IAM Lodge 742 

Bruce Hoster IAM Lodge 742 John Wozniak IAM Lodge 742 

William Brown IAM Lodge 742 Mike Polowinczak IAM Lodge 742 

Kristi Wood IAM Lodge 742 

NIOSH and ORAU Team Representatives: 

William Murray – Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) 

Mark Lewis – Advanced Technologies and Laboratories International, Inc. (ATL) 

Norman Rohrig – Intrepid Technologies 

Bob Meyer – M F G Environmental 

Mary Elliott – ATL 

Proceedings: 

Mark Lewis began the meeting at approximately 3:45 p.m. by asking everyone to introduce 

themselves. Mr. Lewis gave a brief introduction of the program, describing the value of having 

workers provide information for the Site Profile as “taking a snapshot of the past,” recalling 

information that may be helpful to make the document a better instrument for reconstructing 

radiation doses. He explained that he had worked for 29 years at the Portsmouth Gaseous 

Diffusion Plant and was a member of the PACE union there for many years -- now United 

Steelworkers of America. He said that he is now employed by ATL International, a 

subcontractor to Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU), to conduct worker outreach with 

labor unions that have members associated with the nuclear weapons complex. 

Mr. Lewis stated that the purpose of the meeting was to discuss the types of information that 

would be important in developing the Argonne National Laboratory-East Site Profile. He said 

that the site profile is a “living document,” which means that it can be changed if new 

information becomes available. 
NIOSH Dose Reconstruction Project 

Introductory Meeting on 

Development of Site Profile 

For Argonne National Laboratory-East 

Final Meeting Minutes 2 of 3 10/27/2005 

Mr. Lewis introduced Norman Rohrig and Bob Meyer as members of the site profile team for 

Argonne National Laboratory East. He said that Mary Elliott was present to take notes to ensure 

accuracy of the minutes. He then introduced Bill Murray for the presentation of the program. 

Mr. Murray began his presentation by describing three phases in which it is important to involve 

the workers in the development of the site profile: 

1. At the beginning of the Site Profile development process, when the ORAU team 

meets with workers to get their input. 

2. A rollout meeting after the Site Profile is completed. 

3. A continuing dialogue with the workers and union representatives, which allows 

for additional input that can lead to revisions in the document.

Mr. Murray explained the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act 

(EEOICPA) was enacted by Congress to compensate workers who became ill as a result of 

occupational exposure to radiation or toxic chemicals in the nuclear weapons industry. He said 

that the team was there pursuant to Part B of EEOICPA, which deals with claims for radiation 

exposure as well as beryllium exposure and silicosis. He described the roles of the Department 

of Labor (DOL) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Office 

of Compensation Analysis and Support (OCAS) in implementing the program. He explained 

that due to the large number of claims, NIOSH had contracted with Oak Ridge Associated 

Universities (ORAU) to perform dose reconstructions for claims filed under Subtitle B of the 

Act. Government and contractor records are used in writing the Site Profile, and worker input is 

important to give the workers’ perspective and ensure that the document is not biased in favor of 

the employer or the government. He explained that the authors of the Site Profile are not 

affiliated with the site so there will be no conflict of interest. 

Mr. Murray described the site profile as an historical document compiled from information from 

many sources. This information is gathered from documents provided by the government and 

the contractor, but input from the employees of the site ensures historical accuracy because they 

are the true site experts. He then discussed the main components of a site profile: site processes 

and activities, external dose, internal dose, environmental dose, and medical dose. He described 

how the dose reconstructions are done using this information -- the more information available, 

the more accurate the dose reconstruction. This is why it is so important to get input from the 

workers’ standpoint -- they know what happened at the site. 

Mr. Murray said that if a person has classified information that could be used in the Site Profile, 

secure interviews can be arranged. 

Mr. Murray added that all additional sources of information should be explored. Employees and 

retirees may have information that wasn’t included in the government and company records; or 

they may be able to identify other sources of information. If any such information is available, it 

should be sent directly to NIOSH by mail or e-mail. 
NIOSH Dose Reconstruction Project 

Introductory Meeting on 

Development of Site Profile 

For Argonne National Laboratory-East 

Final Meeting Minutes 3 of 3 10/27/2005 

Discussion Session – Q/A 

Question: 

Can survivors file? 

Bill Murray: 

Yes, they can. If there is a surviving spouse, he or she may file for the benefits. If there is no 

surviving spouse, then any surviving children may file the claim. 

Question: 

Does the program cover future illness? 

Bill Murray: 

Yes, it does. If a current or former worker gets cancer next year or ten years from now, the 

worker/survivor can file a claim. 

Question: 

What if a claimant worked at more than one site? 

Bill Murray: 

If a worker was employed at more than one Department of Energy/Atomic Weapons Employer 

site, the dose records are obtained from all of the sites. The dose from all sites is used to 

reconstruct the worker’s dose. 

Mark Lewis: 

The DOL Resource Center responsible for Argonne East is located in Paducah, Kentucky. Their 

office will assist union members if they need help filing claims. 

Mr. Murray concluded the presentation at approximately 4:15 p.m. by thanking the union 

membership for allowing the team to make its presentation.