Livermore, CA – After almost two years of investigation, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report on the problems reported by claimants and advocates with the implementation of the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act of 2000, as amended (EEOICPA). While it will take some time to comprehend the report in its entirety, the Alliance of Nuclear Worker Advocacy Groups (ANWAG) fully supports GAO’s recommendation for the creation of an independent advisory board to oversee the Department of Labor’s (DOL) responsibilities under EEOICPA. ANWAG also supports GAO’s recommendation for transparent public access to the Site Exposure Matrices (SEM) utilized by the DOL claims examiners to adjudicate claims.
"The GAO’s call for scientific oversight of Part E is no small matter. It challenges the current program leadership's understanding of the complexity of the issues and highlights their unwillingness to assure the scientific integrity of the decision. GAO’s recommendations support ANWAG's contention that program decisions are often arbitrary and capricious, and without scientific basis. Moreover, it supports the advocates’ concerns and those of the program's last medical director, who was forced out of his job when he raised these very issues. The current DOL leadership could administratively implement independent oversight without a Congressional mandate. However, their unwillingness to do this on their own suggests that it is time for a change in DOL leadership," stated Scott Yundt of Tri-Valley CAREs.
"I am disappointed that the GAO has only recommended a few changes within EEOICPA, "stated Antoinette Bonsignore, Linde Ceramics SEC Action Group. "Particularly, almost exonerating NIOSH for the huge administrative costs of the Part B program because of the complex scientific issues involved." Ms. Bonsignore added, "The complexity of the scientific process used for Part B should not provide NIOSH with a pass. NIOSH must consider the burden placed on sickened workers that were systematically lied to about radiation exposure when reconciling the proper limits of science within a reparations program. Furthermore, a claimant friendly reparations program should not incentivize the denial of claims by the government contractor hired by NIOSH to process those same claims."
ANWAG urges Congress to act immediately to realize the reforms recommended by the GAO without delay. ANWAG also urges Congress to hold hearings as soon as practicable to address the other issues raised and not raised in the GAO report.
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