nuclear-news

Illness compensation plan for former nuclear workers

Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Huntington News, April 26, 2012 –  Here are the facilities in or near former Huntington Pilot Plant that have benefit programs for former nuclear workers and survivors. Data provided by Dept. of Labor:

1 – Huntington Pilot Plant  Facility Description: The AEC built the
Huntington Pilot Plant in 1951 to supply nickel powder for use in the
Paducah and Portsmouth gaseous diffusion plants. One source of the
nickel was scrap nickel which was contaminated with uranium….
2 – Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant*…….Beginning in 1954,
Portsmouth produced highly enriched uranium to support nuclear weapons
production and, later, for use by submarine, research, and test
reactors. The high-enrichment portion of the diffusion cascade was
shut down in 1991.

On July 1, 1993, the United States Enrichment Corporation (USEC)*, a
government-owned corporation formed under the Energy Policy Act of
1992, assumed control of the plant’s production activities. USEC,
which was fully privatized in 1998, continued to produce enriched
uranium for commercial use at this location until May 11, 2001 when
production ceased … Throughout the course of its operations, the
potential for beryllium exposure existed at this site…..
3 – Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant …. The Department of Energy’s
(DOE) Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant opened in 1952 to enrich uranium
for nuclear weapons. During the plant’s Cold War history, more than
one million tons of uranium was processed……  the plant also
supplied enriched uranium for the Navy and commercial fuel. The
Paducah Plant also acted as the uranium hexafluoride feed point for
all gaseous diffusion plants until 1964. Throughout the course of its
operations, the potential for beryllium exposure existed at this site.
On July 1, 1993, the United States Enrichment Corporation (USEC)*, a
government-owned corporation formed under the Energy Policy Act of
1992, assumed control of the plant’s uranium enrichment activities.
USEC, which was fully privatized in July 1998, continues to produce
low enriched uranium for commercial use DOE remains responsible for
addressing the environmental cleanup resulting from historic plant
operations……
4 – Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant* (K-25) …. The K-25 gaseous
diffusion plant was built as part of the World War II Manhattan
Project to supply enriched uranium for nuclear weapons production.
Along with the plants in Paducah, KY, and Portsmouth, OH, the site was
used primarily for the production of highly-enriched uranium for
nuclear weapons until 1964.

From 1959 to 1969, focus shifted to the production of
commercial-grade, low-enriched uranium……. Since 1988, the primary
DOE mission at K-25 has been remediation, though on-site DOE
contractors and sub-contractors continue to provide on-site services
which are covered under EEOICPA….. during this period of
remediation, the process of privatization of K-25 into the ETTP was
ongoing. This privatization effort involved leasing portions of the
premises out to private industry to conduct their own business there.
These private businesses and their employees are not covered under the
EEOICPA.  …… http://www.huntingtonnews.net/30223

April 27, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | health, USA