The DOE took over nuclear weapons production from the Atomic Energy Commission in the 1970s. Because of the department's inattention to the history of the plant, the health of IAAP workers had never been monitored as were workers at other nuclear weapons assembly plants around the country. Apparently now the feds are serious. Patriotic Americans, the IAAP workers have kept their mouths shut for decades, because their work involved national security. That has been changed by a revision in federal policy.
Workers now can talk about what they worked around.
Some, however, still are afraid to have loose lips. But they must talk to help establish patterns of health problems. Others, though, are telling their doctors and some are talking to lawyers. One woman said she was contacted by a Burlington lawyer while at last week's meeting. He apparently has a few clients who may file a class action lawsuit against the federal government.