The Clinton administration yesterday proposed increasing the potential compensation available to nuclear workers sickened by Cold War-era exposure to radiation and beryllium. Lifetime health care for surviving workers is provided either way. Congress approved the compensation package late last year, but has until March 15 to pass changes. Otherwise, the law automatically goes into effect July 31. Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Energy also released a list of 317 sites in 37 states, the Marshall Islands, Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C., that housed either Energy Department nuclear weapons facilities or private companies that contracted to do weapons-related work involving radiation or beryllium.
Beryllium is a metal associated with atomic-weapons production that can cause terminal lung disease.
Craig Jensen, Battelle's radiation safety officer, said he doesn't expect many employees to claim eligibility under the compensation law. Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson said the government owes it to sickened workers to do a good job carrying out the compensation program. We will be open and candid this time, not like in the past,'' he said. Richardson said he expects the incoming Bush administration to continue the commitment to the compensation program and to a related initiative where the Energy Department will assist in seeking workers' compensation benefits for people made ill by other materials. Richardson leaves office Jan. 20, when President-elect Bush is sworn into office, but he sounded an optimistic note about the chances of the new Congress and administration enhancing the compensation package approved last year.