U.S. Labor Department Pays $500 Million to Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant Workers Under Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act
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Thursday, June 4, 2009 |
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The
U.S. Department of Labor announced that it has paid more than $500
million in compensation and medical benefits to 4,798 current and
former employees of the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant and their
survivors under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation
Program Act (EEOICPA). The EEOICPA was created to assist individuals
who became ill as a result of working in the atomic weapons industry.
Survivors of such individuals may also be eligible for benefits.
The
U.S. Department of Energy's Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant, located in
Paducah, Ky., produced more than one million tons of uranium during the
plant's Cold War history.
"Employees of the Paducah Gaseous
Diffusion Plant sacrificed their health to help the nation build its
nuclear defense program. Therefore, I am proud to announce that the
Labor Department has paid these deserving individuals more than $500
million in compensation and medical benefits," said Rachel P. Leiton,
director of the department's Division of Energy Employees Occupational
Illness Compensation, which administers the EEOICPA. "We hope that this
aid has assisted in easing the hardships experienced by this
community."
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