NIOSH Dose Reconstruction 

Project Meeting 

On Mound Site Profile 

Final Minutes Page 1 of 5 8/10/05 

Meeting Date: 

January 18, 2005 

Meeting with: 

Dayton Building and Construction Trades Council 

Attendees: 

Charles Morton Dayton Building Trades 

Mike Thomas Dayton Building Trades 

Roger Peck Sheet Metal Worker 

Jerry White Laborer # 1410 

Henry Poff Iron Workers Local # 290 

Dennis Jones Iron Workers Local # 290 

Michael Moore Sheet Metal Workers’ International Association Local # 24 

Tony Hammond Sheet Metal Workers’ International Association Local # 24 

Dan Franklin Sprinkler Fitter Local # 669 

Grady Mullins International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local # 82 

Doug Sesecy International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local # 82 

Phil Reynolds Bricklayers and Allied Craft Workers Local # 22 

Dan Miller Bricklayers and Allied Craft Workers Local # 22 

Dale Herzog Bricklayers and Allied Craft Workers Local # 22 

Scott Springer United Brotherhood of Carpenters Local # 104 

Joe Smith United Brotherhood of Carpenters Local # 104 

Todd Lipinski LU 162 Dayton 

Michael Moore Millwrights Local # 1066 

NIOSH and ORAU Team Representatives: 

Peter Darnell – National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) 

William Murray – Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) 

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

Melissa Fish – ORAU 

Jeff Vollmer – Environmental Dimensions Inc. 
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Proceedings

Mark Lewis began the meeting by introducing himself and thanking everyone for taking 

the time to meet with the Worker Outreach team. Mr. Lewis explained that the Worker 

Outreach team makes every effort to utilize the collective memory of former workers. 

The information that workers provide assists with the dose reconstruction process of the 

Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Act (EEOICPA). Mr. Lewis then 

introduced the members of the Worker Outreach team who were present (William 

Murray and Melissa Fish), Peter Darnell from the National Institute for Occupational 

Safety and Health (NIOSH), and the Mound Site Profile Team Leader—Jeff Vollmer. 

Mr. Darnell explained that EEOICPA is administered by the Department of Labor (DOL): 

EEOICPA is a DOL program and NIOSH works with the DOL. Mr. Darnell said that 

NIOSH is essentially performing “Health Physics Archeology” by trying to calculate the 

maximum amount of dose that a worker could have received. If the Probability of 

Causation (POC) calculation is above 50% it is assumed that the radiation exposures 

caused the cancer and compensation would be rewarded. If the POC is below 50%, it is 

assumed that the radiation exposures did not cause the cancer and compensation 

would not be awarded under Subpart B of EEOICPA. Mr. Darnell let the group know 

that they were free to ask him any questions that they might have. 

Before turning the floor over to Mr. Murray, Mr. Lewis pointed out that the meeting was 

being recorded so the team could accurately record individual concerns and comments. 

Mr. Lewis emphasized that the team only cares about the concern/comment and not 

who made the comment. 

Mr. Murray began his presentation by thanking the group for giving the Worker 

Outreach team the opportunity to come and discuss the Mound Site Profile as it relates 

to EEOICPA. Mr. Murray told the group that he would be willing to answer questions or 

address concerns during any part of the presentation. 

Mr. Murray explained the significant dates regarding EEOICPA and that EEOICPA 

consists of two types of compensation claims that are sent to DOL. There is a Subtitle B 

portion of EEOICPA as well as a Subtitle E portion of EEOICPA. He provided general 

information regarding both Subtitles of EEOICPA and explained that NIOSH and the 

Worker Outreach team deal with the Subtitle B radiation claims. Mr. Murray went on to 

explain that NIOSH is the federal agency that performs the dose reconstructions under 

Subtitle B. The Office of Compensation Analysis and Support (OCAS) is the department 

within NIOSH that is concerned with reconstructing radiation doses for Subtitle B claims. 

Because of the magnitude of the EEOICPA project, NIOSH hired Oak Ridge Associated 

Universities (ORAU) as the primary contractor. 

Mr. Murray told the group that the purpose of the meeting was to discuss the Mound 

Site Profile, to describe how a site profile is used, to collect suggestions and information 

from the former workers, to document concerns and issues brought up in the meeting, 
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and to answer any questions. Mr. Murray explained that the audio recorder is used to 

capture concerns and assist us in generating minutes. Once the meeting minutes for 

this meeting are generated, people who attended the meeting will have the opportunity 

to review the minutes and provide their feedback. Mr. Murray stressed that the Worker 

Outreach program wants workers to have input into the site profiles so that the program 

does not rely strictly on Department of Energy (DOE) data. 

Mr. Murray explained that the site profile is used by radiation specialists to reconstruct 

radiation doses. The site profile provides site-specific technical information and 

minimizes the interpretation of data so that all claims at a site are handled in an 

equitable manner. Mr. Murray emphasized that all site profile documents can be revised 

if new information is discovered that would impact the dose reconstruction results. Mr. 

Murray pointed out that the Hanford and Savannah River Site Profiles have been 

revised based on worker feedback. 

Mr. Murray explained that the site profile is made up of five major sections: site 

description, external dosimetry, internal dosimetry, occupational environmental dose, 

and occupational medical dose. The site description describes activities that went on at 

the site. The external dose and internal dosimetry sections use information from the site 

dosimetry programs. The occupational environmental dose section has information on 

the radiation exposures that workers might have been exposed to through the 

environment (i.e. air) even if the workers were not included in the dosimetry programs. 

The occupational medical dose section looks at exposures to radiation that workers 

experienced from x rays that were required as a condition of employment, such as 

employer required chest x-rays. The whole philosophy behind reconstructing the doses 

is to make sure that the reconstructed doses favor the claimant. 

Mr. Murray stated that the Mound Site Profile team was established in July 2003 and 

that the Team Leader is Jeff Vollmer. The Mound Site Profile has been completed and 

has undergone an intense and stringent review process and has been approved by 

NIOSH. The Mound Site Profile is used to reconstruct radiation doses to workers at 

Mound. The Mound Site Profile and all other posted site profiles can be obtained from 

the NIOSH website at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ocas/ocas/ocastbds.html#. 

Mr. Murray told the group that the Mound site description provides general but not 

detailed information in presenting an overview of the facilities and activities at the 

Mound site since 1943. Included in the Mound site description are the radioactive 

materials and radiation sources at the site, as well as the potential radiation exposures 

from work activities that occurred at the Mound site. 

The Occupational External Dosimetry section includes information about dosimeter 

technology, exchange frequency, workplace radiation fields, and worker locations 

around radiation sources. It specifically includes information regarding the sources of 

exposure at the site, methods and practices used by the site over time, and adjustments 

to recorded doses. This section also looks at the minimum detectable levels (MDLs) of 
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badges to see the lowest radiation dose that could be detected. Mr. Murray explained 

that the dose reconstruction attempts to account for the MDL by assigning a dose even 

when a claimant’s recorded value after reading the badge is zero. In cases of recorded 

zeros, half of the MDL is the dose that is assigned to the claimant for each badge 

exchange. In assigning an external dose for every recorded zero, NIOSH believes that 

the dose reconstruction is claimant favorable. 

The Occupational Internal Dosimetry section looks at the methods and practices used 

by the site over time, sources of exposure at the site, reporting levels, and minimal 

detectable activity (MDA) for whole body/chest counting and urinalysis. The Mound Site 

had a program to measure internal dose and they looked at the same types of issues for 

measuring internal dose as for measuring external dose. Mr. Murray explained that the 

Mound Bioassay program started in 1944. Urine and fecal samples were analyzed for 

selected radionuclides. Gamma-emitting radioactive materials were measured inside of 

the body by whole body counting from 1960 to 1970 and by chest counting from 1970 to 

2003. Information from the Bioassay program is looked at and incorporated into the 

dose reconstruction. 

Mr. Murray explained that just because a worker was not monitored does not mean that 

the worker did not receive a radiation dose. Workers who were not monitored could still 

be exposed to radiation on site from radioactive materials in the air and in the work 

environment. Site-wide monitoring data are used to calculate the external dose for 

unmonitored workers. The annual intake of radioactive material is calculated from the 

average annual air concentration to calculate an internal dose for unmonitored workers. 

Mr. Murray explained that the Occupational Medical Dose section assumes that most 

employees were required to receive annual chest x rays during employment and prior to 

being hired. Information used to reconstruct occupational medical radiation doses 

includes the frequency of employer required x rays and the x-ray equipment and 

techniques used. Mr. Murray noted that the x-ray equipment at Mound changed over 

time and that older equipment gave off more x-ray radiation, resulting in higher doses. 

Mr. Murray added that because building trades’ workers faced different work conditions 

than other employees, new guidance is being created to handle issues and concerns 

that are specific to the building trades. 

In conclusion, Mr. Murray reminded the group that developing a usable site profile is an 

important task and that the site profile can change based on worker input. Mr. Murray 

asked the group to send comments regarding the site profiles directly to NIOSH. Mr. 

Murray provided the mailing address, the fax number, and email address for submitting 

site profile comments. Mr. Murray also provided the NIOSH Office of Compensation 

Analysis and Support website address. 

Discussion Session
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Question: What about residents who became ill, not just workers? 

William Murray: The EEOICPA does not cover residents, only workers. If people are 

specifically concerned about non-worker issues one point of contact is an organization 

called FRESH—Fernald Residents for Environmental Safety and Health. 

Question: My father worked as a contractor in a plant years ago and had cancer. What 

type of documentation is required to file a claim? 

Peter Darnell: The DOE knows which contractors worked at each site. I have seen 

claims with an affidavit signed indicating that an individual worked at a specific plant. 

Mark Lewis: The DOL Resource center might be of assistance in providing advice 

about what can be done to prove that someone was employed at a specific plant for a 

particular number of years. 

Concern: It is difficult to piece the puzzle together so that a former worker can file for 

compensation. 

William Murray: We understand that it is difficult, especially considering that some 

contractors are no longer in business. However, there is an affidavit process in place to 

verify that an undocumented worker worked in a specific area or at a specific location. 

NIOSH is working with the Center to Protect Worker Rights to best address these 

issues. 

Question: Who do we contact if we have work history information? 

William Murray: Contact the Department of Labor 

Mark Lewis: 1-866-363-6993 

Question: Which three plants are included in the Special Exposure Cohort status? 

William Murray: The three gaseous diffusion plants that are included in the Special 

Exposure Cohort Status include Portsmouth, Ohio; Paducah, Kentucky; and Oak Ridge 

(K-25), Tennessee. Legislation is in place to let people apply to get Special Exposure 

Cohort status. Currently, the Mound site is not a Special Exposure Cohort. 

Question: Will NIOSH or the Worker Outreach team attend a meeting with other 

members of the union to explain this program? 

Peter Darnell: NIOSH will send out the Worker Outreach team. 

The meeting was adjourned. Mr. Murray and Mr. Lewis thanked everyone for taking the 

time to attend the meeting. Mr. Murray reminded the group to send their comments to 

NIOSH and that the contact information for NIOSH was included in the presentation 

packets.