Efficacy of Compensation Program for Nuclear Workers under Scrutiny

In an article published by the Santa Fe New Mexican on Feb. 20, the administration of the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA) is brought into question in light of the recent rule changes proposed by the Department of Labor (DOL). Advocate and founder of the Alliance of Nuclear Worker Advocacy Groups (ANWAG), Terrie Barrie, talks about the difficulty of getting claims approved by the DOL, stating, “One of the trends I’ve seen is legitimate claims being denied even though the evidence has been provided.”

Referring to the 2015 McClatchy DC news investigation, the Santa Fe New Mexican writes, “fewer than half of the people who have applied for benefits have received them, and workers’ complaints are often suspended in the complex process of paperwork or court hearings, with some claims languishing in the system for up to 10 years.” This investigation has caused lawmakers such as Sen. Tom Udall, Rep. Ben Ray Luján and former NM Gov. Bill Richardson to challenge the proposed changes. To read the full article, click here.