WASHINGTON — Uranium miners who contracted cancer, and earlier received $100,000 in government compensation, now likely have another $50,000 coming. Or their survivors may.
And Larry Jones wants to help such people in Utah apply for and receive it.
He is the site manager of a federal center to help people fill out necessary forms. It is in Idaho Falls, but is the closest such center to Utah. It has a toll-free number (1-800-861-8608), and Jones is willing to send staff to help Utahns if needed.
"I think a lot of people who could receive money don't even know it's available. We're trying to get word out," Jones said.
The money, and a somewhat confusing method to receive it, came through a bill that Congress passed last year.
The bill originally aimed to give $150,000 to Energy Department workers and contractors who developed serious disease from radiation exposure. But Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, was upset that it would give them more than the $100,000 earlier offered to uranium miners and millers in a separate program he created through the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act of 1990.
Documents had shown that the government knew such miners would almost surely develop cancer, but it never warned them. Hatch did not want any group to receive more than them.
Hatch managed to amend the bill last year to give uranium miners and millers who had qualified for the original $100,000 payments an extra $50,000 each. (He also tried, but failed, to increase payments for people who developed cancer after being exposed to fallout from atomic bomb tests upwind).
However, the uranium miners and millers won't automatically receive the extra $50,000. They or their survivors must apply for it.
Also, while they applied for the first sum of money through the Justice Department, the law makes them apply for the extra $50,000 through the Labor Department.
"We're here to help them through the process," Jones said. His center was put in Idaho Falls mostly to help workers at Energy Department facilities near there apply for compensation, but he wants to reach out to uranium miners and millers in Utah, too.
People may download application forms available at the Labor Department's Internet site, www.dol.gov. Or they may call Jones' office toll free at 1-800-861-8608.
"We can even fill out the forms with information they give us over the phone and then send it to them (to sign) with an appropriately addressed envelope to send it where it needs to go," Jones said.
Jones said his office will also help uranium miners and millers who may never have applied for the original $100,000 benefits to apply for them through the Justice Department.
The legislation passed last year not only gives qualifying uranium miners and millers an extra $50,000 but offers lifetime medical benefits for the illness they suffered.
Surviving spouses may also apply for the extra $50,000. Surviving children may qualify for the money if at the time of their parent's death they were younger than 18, were full-time students under age 23 or were older than 18 but incapable of self-support.
E-mail: lee@desnews.com