NIOSH Dose Reconstruction Project 

Rollout Meeting for the 

Huntington Pilot Plant Site Profile 

Final Minutes 1 of 10 04/17/06 

Meeting Date: 

January 5, 2006, 1:00 p.m. 

Meeting with: 

United Steelworkers of America (USW) Local 40, Huntington, West Virginia 

Attendees: 

Name Organization 

Keith E. Davis USW Local 40 

Gregory S. Kingery, President USW Local 40 

Roger D. Gray USW Local 40, Steelworkers’ Organization of Active Retirees 

(SOAR) 

David Woodall USW Local 40 

Jason Jeffers USW Local 40 

Vincent E. Perry USW Local 40 

Rolley P. Pyles, Jr. USW Local 40 

William R. Wilcox USW Local 40 

Nancy Lane USW Local 40 

Roger Stephens USW Local 40 

Barb Copley SOAR 

Ron Ferrell SOAR 

Ray Adkins SOAR 

Don Faulkner Health, Safety & Environment Dept., USW International Union 

NIOSH and ORAU Team Representatives: 

Tom Tomes – National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Office of 

Compensation Analysis and Support (OCAS) 

Jeri Anderson – NIOSH Health-Related Energy Research Branch (HERB), Site Profile Author 

William “Bill” Murray – Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU), Worker Outreach Team 

Leader 

Steve Meiners – Tricord, Inc. 

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

Mary Elliott – ATL 

Proceedings 

Mr. Lewis began the discussion at 1:00 p.m. by thanking the union representatives for inviting 

the Worker Outreach Team to their meeting. He described his union background, his work 

experience within the nuclear weapons complex, and his involvement in working alongside 

fellow union members for the passage of the Energy Employees Occupational Illness 

Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA). He is now employed by ATL as the Worker Outreach 

Team’s union outreach specialist on the NIOSH Dose Reconstruction Project. 
NIOSH Dose Reconstruction Project 

Rollout Meeting for the 

Huntington Pilot Plant Site Profile 

Final Minutes 2 of 10 04/17/06 

Mr. Lewis explained that the Site Profile is a tool used in reconstructing radiation doses for 

claims filed under Subtitle B of the EEOICPA. Since the Site Profile Team uses records from the 

U. S. Department of Energy (DOE) and its contractors during the development of the site profile 

documents, NIOSH and ORAU need information from former workers that may not be included 

in these records. The labor perspective is important because the “official” records do not always 

accurately reflect the work practices and radiation safety issues at a given site. The types of 

information that could be helpful would include the types of personal protective equipment worn 

by workers and whether they wore badges or received bioassay testing such as urinalysis. 

Although the Site Profile for the Huntington Pilot Plant is complete, it is a “living document” 

that can be revised if new information becomes available that could impact claimants’ dose 

reconstructions. 

Mr. Lewis stated that Mary Elliott would be taking notes during the meeting to capture their 

questions, comments and concerns. Draft minutes will be sent to the union leadership for review 

to ensure that all of the comments and concerns are captured. He asked the NIOSH staff and 

other ORAU Team members to introduce themselves. 

Mr. Tomes said that he is a health physicist on the Dose Reconstruction Team at NIOSH. 

NIOSH provides oversight for the ORAU Team during the Site Profile development and dose 

reconstruction process. His job is to review dose reconstructions performed by the ORAU Team. 

NIOSH also provides a review process during the development of the Site Profile documents. 

When the Site Profile is complete, it provides information for use in the dose reconstruction 

process for EEOICPA claimants. He is currently revising the Huntington Pilot Plant Site Profile 

(Rev 02) to include additional information. His primary function at the meeting is to get 

information and to make sure any comments or issues raised at the meeting are followed up. 

Ms. Anderson introduced herself as the author of the first two editions (Revs 00 and 01) of the 

Site Profile. She works now for the NIOSH Health-Related Energy Research Branch. She stated 

that she was present to answer any questions about the Site Profile. 

Mr. Murray introduced himself as the Worker Outreach Team Leader. He thanked the union 

representatives for inviting the Team to their meeting. He explained that the Worker Outreach 

Program was developed after input from the Advisory Board on Radiation and Worker Health, 

which suggested that NIOSH meet with labor organizations to discuss EEOICPA and get input 

for the Site Profiles from workers from the facilities affected by the law. 

Mr. Meiners stated that he works for Tricord, a subcontractor to the NIOSH/ORAU Team. He 

requested that the attendees sign in on the sheet being circulated and explained that their names 

would be included in the meeting minutes that would eventually be posted on the OCAS Web 

site. 

Mr. Lewis requested that the union representatives introduce themselves and welcomed Don 

Faulkner, of the United Steelworkers of America International Union’s Health, Safety and 

Environment Department. 
NIOSH Dose Reconstruction Project 

Rollout Meeting for the 

Huntington Pilot Plant Site Profile 

Final Minutes 3 of 10 04/17/06 

Comment: 

The illustration of the birdcage (Fig. 2, Page 11) in the Site Profile is not right. There was a 

center sleeve. 

Mark Lewis: 

Is there anyone present who worked inside the Pilot Plant during the contract period? (No one 

from the group indicated that they had, but there were two gentlemen present who worked at 

International Nickel Company (INCO), adjacent to the plant, during the contract period.) 

Comment: 

It will be difficult for you to get first-hand information from people who actually worked in the 

Pilot Plant. There are probably less than twenty employees from the plant still living. In fact, I 

wouldn’t be surprised if there are less than ten. 

Bill Murray: 

We could arrange a conference call with a group of former workers. 

Response: 

You can’t do that – there are security issues. I believe that there is a fifty-year “sundown” clause. 

Jeri Anderson: 

NIOSH has personnel who have security clearances. 

Steve Meiners: 

NIOSH can make arrangements for secure interviews at DOE-approved locations. The DOE 

reviews the interview transcripts, redacts them, and releases a generalized, unclassified version. 

Mark Lewis: 

Do you know if there are any former workers still living that held security clearances? 

Response: 

Many of them were hired as salaried employees at INCO after the RPP (Reduction Pilot Plant – 

this term is interchangeable with Huntington Pilot Plant, which also may be referred to herein as 

the Pilot Plant, HPP, or IPP) closed. Some have passed away. 

Comment: 

We were routinely sent into the building to perform maintenance after the operations stopped. 

Comment: 

I worked on demolition in the IPP building. 

Question: 

Are you going to talk about just the Huntington Pilot Plant or the whole company? 

Bill Murray: 

We will be talking about the contract period from 1953 to 1961 and the possible exposures 

during that time period. We will also discuss the residual contamination remaining at the plant up 

through the decontamination in 1979. 
NIOSH Dose Reconstruction Project 

Rollout Meeting for the 

Huntington Pilot Plant Site Profile 

Final Minutes 4 of 10 04/17/06 

Response: 

It is more far-reaching than just the plant. Houdaille Industries, on the west end of Huntington, 

claimed that they got radioactive anodes from the merchant mill. They sealed off their storeroom 

because of it. If the story is really true, there could be lots of places affected. 

Mark Lewis: 

This is your meeting – your time to bring up your concerns. 

Bill Murray; 

The law compensates workers from the contract period and those who worked on the site during 

the period covered for residual contamination. 

Questions from Don Faulkner (from USW International): 

There are several issues I would like to address: 

1) The company removed dump truck loads of records and burned them after the law came 

into effect. How can you reconstruct someone’s radiation dose if there are no records? 

2) There are places here that are so “hot” that snow doesn’t gather on the concrete. How do 

you explain that if the site is no longer considered contaminated? 

3) You call the Site Profile a “living document.” Do you have guidance for revision? 

4) The International Union would like to bring in the SOAR (retirees) group for a town-hall 

type meeting. 

Tom Tomes: 

When NIOSH receives new information about a site, it must be considered credible to justify a 

revision to the Site Profile. While documents provide better evidence than information based 

only on the workers’ memories, NIOSH will research any information that could affect dose 

reconstructions for a site. 

Mr. Meiners presented a brief overview of the Energy Employees Occupational Illness 

Compensation Act of 2000 (EEOICPA). Two types of claims may be filed under this program: 

Subtitle B provides for compensation for radiation-induced cancers, berylliosis and some 

silicosis claims; Subtitle E claims are filed for compensation for diseases related to toxic 

chemical exposure. Claims may be filed by employees or former employees who worked for 

facilities or companies under contract with the AEC or DOE, as well as surviving spouses or 

children if the worker is deceased. All EEOICPA claims are filed through the Department of 

Labor. 

Question: 

Does silicosis apply to our plant? 

Jeri Anderson: 

Silicosis claims are handled by the Department of Labor. NIOSH only handles radiation claims. 

Bill Murray: 

If you worked at a covered facility and have a medical diagnosis of silicosis, you should call the 

DOL Resource Center in Portsmouth and file a claim. DOL makes the decision for silicosis 

claims. 
NIOSH Dose Reconstruction Project 

Rollout Meeting for the 

Huntington Pilot Plant Site Profile 

Final Minutes 5 of 10 04/17/06 

After the DOL receives a Subtitle B claim for cancer and verifies employment and medical 

diagnosis, it is sent to NIOSH for a dose reconstruction. NIOSH established the Office of 

Compensation Analysis and Support (OCAS) to facilitate the dose reconstruction effort. Due to 

the large number of claims submitted, ORAU and other contractors have assembled a large team 

to perform the dose reconstructions and other associated tasks. 

Mr. Meiners stated that the purpose of the meeting is to discuss the Huntington Pilot Plant Site 

profile and its use in the dose reconstruction process. It serves as an opportunity for the attendees 

to provide suggestions and information for the Site Profile, as well as a means for the Worker 

Outreach Team to document concerns and issues and to answer any questions regarding the Site 

Profile and the dose reconstruction process. 

Mr. Meiners explained that the Site Profile is used by the health physicists who reconstruct 

EEOICPA claimants’ radiation doses to determine the probability that their cancers are related to 

radiation exposures received during their employment. The likelihood that the cancer is directly 

related to this exposure is referred to as “probability of causation” (POC). All of a claimant’s 

radiation exposure information is entered into a computer program that uses radiation risk 

information to determine POC for that cancer. If the program finds that radiation is “as likely as 

not” to have caused the claimant’s cancer (greater than 50% probability) the claim is awarded. 

The Site Profile is a handbook of site-specific technical information that allows the dose 

reconstructors to consistently use the same information as a framework for all claims from that 

site. Since the Site Profile is a “living document,” additional information from workers improves 

its quality, resulting in more effective evaluations of workers’ radiation doses. A worker’s 

personal medical records and personal interview during the dose reconstruction process provide 

the other information needed for his/her personal dose reconstruction. When a Site Profile is 

revised, a claim that has been previously denied can be reopened if the new information can 

positively affect its outcome. 

The Huntington Pilot Plant Site Profile includes sections on the site description and estimation of 

internal dose and external dose (including occupational medical X-ray dose), as well as radiation 

dose from residual radioactivity. The Site Profile can be viewed at this address on the NIOSH 

website: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ocas/ocastbds.html#huntpp. 

The site description is an historic overview of facilities and activities at the Huntington Pilot 

Plant, which was built by the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) in 1951. The plant operated 

under contract from 1951-1963. During this period, the plant supplied nickel powder that was 

used to make gaseous diffusion barriers for the three gaseous diffusion plants in Portsmouth, 

Ohio, Paducah, Kentucky, and Oak Ridge, Tennessee (K-25). Nickel scrap from K-25 was 

shipped back to the Pilot Plant to be recycled into nickel powder for future shipments to the three 

gaseous diffusion plants. The plant melted down the scrap nickel, which may have contained 

between 4-39% uranium, for a two-week period every month. All claimants are given the benefit 

of an assumption that the scrap contained 39% enriched uranium. After the plant closed, it was 

maintained in stand-by condition until it was decontaminated between November 27, 1978 and 

May 18, 1979. 
NIOSH Dose Reconstruction Project 

Rollout Meeting for the 

Huntington Pilot Plant Site Profile 

Final Minutes 6 of 10 04/17/06 

Comment: 

Workers would go to the Pilot Plant and take scrap to the induction furnaces in other parts of the 

plant. There are sworn affidavits. 

Comment: 

The scrap was used in places other than the Refinery. 

Comment: 

It was used in the tubing department, too. 

Comment: 

Material from the induction furnaces was reworked in the machine shop. We made valves and 

parts for the stand-by area. 

Comment: 

By-product from RPP was sent to the scrapyard as scrap. 

Comment: 

I worked at the open-hearth furnaces. We would go get scrap from the yard for our melts. In the 

open-hearth furnaces, we would take the piggins, or small butts, of nickel scrap to feed into the 

circuit. The stuff was tested that came into the Pilot Plant. 

When the nickel workers went on strike in Canada – around 1976, if I recall correctly – we used 

nickel butts from the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant. The Geiger counters would go off like 

machine guns. 

Mr. Meiners continued with the presentation: The Site Profile Team found no records that would 

indicate any radioactivity monitoring during the period that K-25 scrap nickel was melted at the 

plant. Workers may have had potential exposures to uranium-234, -235, and -238 in the 

contaminated nickel scrap. The estimated annual exposure to nickel dust contaminated with 

uranium dust has an upper bound value of 39%-enriched uranium. The Team calculated an 

internal dose of 1400 picocuries of uranium-234 for workers in the plant. The actual value of the 

percent-enriched uranium will be used and potential doses from the transuranic radionuclides in 

the uranium will be included. 

Since no workers were monitored during plant operations, the section on External Dose is based 

on a survey of the Compressor Building. The site profile team estimated that the annual median 

exposure to workers was 24 milliroentgens (mR). The estimated annual median exposure around 

the birdcages was 130 mR. The annual skin dose is calculated as 0.85 rem. In addition to these 

assumed external radiation exposures, NIOSH assumes one medical (chest) X-ray per worker per 

year in the dose reconstruction calculation. X-rays taken for injuries do not count in this dose. 

Because operations produced nickel dust that may have remained in the environment, residual 

radioactive contamination is considered for the site as well. The covered period for residual 

contamination at the Huntington Pilot Plant is from January 1, 1964 through May 31, 1979. 

Based on available information, annual doses for both internal and external exposure to residual 

contamination are given for that period. Remediation (clean up) is considered to have been 

completed as of May 18, 1979. 
NIOSH Dose Reconstruction Project 

Rollout Meeting for the 

Huntington Pilot Plant Site Profile 

Final Minutes 7 of 10 04/17/06 

Comment: 

I’m not exactly sure of the date, maybe 1983, the Ironworkers Local Union out of Winfield, 

West Virginia, dismantled the building. There was dust everywhere during the demolition. These 

workers were badged and DOE checked them periodically with Geiger counters. Sometimes they 

were sent to take showers or change clothing if the readings got too high. 

Jeri Anderson: 

Our information shows that in 1980, fifty-nine dump trucks and two rail cars loaded with debris 

were buried at the Portsmouth site. 

Comment: 

They buried the trucks, too. 

Comment from Don Faulkner, USWA International Union: 

A catwalk in the Cold Draw area was moved into another part of the plant. 

Steve Meiners: 

Are you saying the catwalk was moved after the decontamination timeframe (1978-79)? 

Response: 

Yes. 

Comment: 

We did a survey in the Cold Draw area. Twenty-two of the employees had cancer, mostly 

kidney, bladder and prostate cancers. 

Comment: 

The Department of Energy (DOE) only has records for documented workers – those workers 

who held DOE clearances or who bid into jobs and got clearances. There are no records for 

undocumented workers. Security-cleared workers took uncleared trainees into the building for 

routine work all the time. An undocumented worker (name withheld) who was required to take 

things to the Yard Department many times filed a claim that was rejected because there were no 

records that he worked in the secured area. Workers in the general labor pool were often sent in 

for clean up and maintenance. Undocumented workers did receive radiation exposure. 

Steve Meiners: 

DOL evaluates the claims. The claimant must have worked at the site during the contract period 

or during the residual contamination period. During the claims process, there are opportunities 

for the individual to give statements regarding work experience. 

Mark Lewis: 

DOL sometimes accepts co-worker affidavits to verify a claimant’s employment. 

Response: 

There was an affidavit. They (DOL) said the worker had to work in the building. 

Steve Meiners: 

There is no information about individual claims on the OCAS Website. Dose reconstruction 

records are protected under the Privacy Act. 
NIOSH Dose Reconstruction Project 

Rollout Meeting for the 

Huntington Pilot Plant Site Profile 

Final Minutes 8 of 10 04/17/06 

Question: 

Have any claimants from the Pilot Plant been compensated? 

Tom Tomes: 

I checked the database to get the figures before I left this morning. Seventy-three claims have 

been filed by HPP employees or their survivors. Fifteen have been withdrawn for various 

reasons. There are still fifty-eight active claims, forty-nine of which have completed dose 

reconstructions. Ten of those have been recommended for compensation. 

Question: 

Have any of the rejected claims been for beryllium? 

Mark Lewis: 

NIOSH does not handle the beryllium claims. Those are decided by the Department of Labor. 

Comment by Don Faulkner (USWA):

The “undocumented worker” claim that was denied was for an employee who was not assigned 

to the Pilot Plant. 

Response (from meeting attendee): 

He was a refinery employee. 

Don Faulkner: 

The company did not provide documentation that he worked at HPP. 

Response (from meeting attendee): 

He was not a documented worker. 

Tom Tomes: 

NIOSH only does the dose reconstructions. The Department of Labor qualifies the claim based 

on employment records and medical diagnosis. 

Comment: 

The claim was filed by the employee’s survivors. They went to court to establish the definition 

of “undocumented worker.” 

Comment: 

He (name withheld) was a supervisor in the machine shop. He was a liaison between the machine 

shop and the Pilot Plant. 

Mark Lewis: 

This is our first visit here about the Site Profile. The Team usually gives a presentation during 

the development of the document and another when it is complete. Meeting with SOAR (retired 

workers group) could provide important information that would tell “the rest of the story” of the 

Huntington Pilot Plant. Worker Outreach became a function of this program when the Advisory 

Board for Radiation and Worker Health recommended that union input be included in the Site 

Profile. 

Comment by Don Faulkner (USWA): 

There is still radioactive material in the environment here. Timelines should be expanded for 

those still working in this facility to cover their medical bills for exposure-related illnesses. 
NIOSH Dose Reconstruction Project 

Rollout Meeting for the 

Huntington Pilot Plant Site Profile 

Final Minutes 9 of 10 04/17/06 

Comment: 

Two years ago, there were ten cases of colon cancer diagnosed within a six-month period in the 

same department. The company is telling us that this rate is not higher than the national average. 

They are giving no cooperation, and we do not believe the company. 

Mark Lewis: 

You could ask the International Union to do a cluster study. Don is your International Health, 

Safety and Environment Representative. 

Jeri Anderson: 

You can also request that NIOSH perform a health hazard evaluation. Your request will remain 

confidential. 

Bill Murray: 

The toll-free telephone number for NIOSH is 1-800-35-NIOSH (1-800-356-4674). 

Response: 

All we are getting are standard company responses. 

Steve Meiners: 

I checked the Program Statistics on the Website. More than 19,000 cases have been turned over 

to OCAS for dose reconstructions, 11,000 of these have been completed. 

Mark Lewis: 

Claims are filed through the Department of Labor Resource Centers. The Resource Center 

assigns a tracking number so the claimant(s) can track the case status. All the information is kept 

confidential. There is contact information in the folder you received at the beginning of the 

meeting. 

Tom Tomes (OCAS): 

Is the Compressor Building that was part of the Pilot Plant still there? 

Response: 

The Compressor Building is now used for wastewater treatment. They took out the floors and 

sealed the surfaces when they did the remediation. It was part of the same building. 

Comment: 

I have been diagnosed with pseudotumor cerebra. The symptoms are similar to those of a brain 

tumor. The doctor is not sure what caused this. 

Bill Murray: 

Does the union have a list of workers who worked in the IPP Building? 

Response: 

There is a seniority list. 

Response (from another attendee): 

When IPP closed down, most of the employees went to salaried positions in other parts of the 

company. 
NIOSH Dose Reconstruction Project 

Rollout Meeting for the 

Huntington Pilot Plant Site Profile 

Final Minutes 10 of 10 04/17/06 

Comment: 

Undocumented workers often worked during plant shutdown. These would have been workers 

who didn’t have vacation time. They were sent to IPP for maintenance with cleared workers. 

Comment: 

There was a reporter (name withheld) at the Huntington Herald-Dispatch who did a story about 

the Pilot Plant when this law was passed. (An attendee provided contact information to the 

Team.) 

Comment: 

I can think of one employee still alive (name withheld) who worked in the “cage” (similar to a 

guard shack) at the entrance to the secured area. 

Mr. Meiners concluded the presentation by emphasizing how important it is to include 

information from workers in the Site Profile since they may have information that cannot be 

found in the written records. The site profile teams rely on workers’ information to make the Site 

Profiles more comprehensive and accurate documents for calculating dose reconstructions for 

claimants. Information for revisions to the document can be sent directly to NIOSH at the 

addresses in the presentation, as well as by fax at the number provided. The Huntington Pilot 

Plant Site Profile and other information on the EEOICPA program can be found on the NIOSH 

website: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ocas. 

Mr. Lewis and Mr. Murray again thanked the union representatives for including the Worker 

Outreach Team in their meeting. The meeting concluded at approximately 2:45 p.m.