Former Area 51 workers eligible for aid…..an important reminder again that the people’s grassroots movement can count
October 12, 2010
The following item is not a brand new item, but it’s just a reminder again that the people’s grassroots movement can count. This item came in June of 2008. However, the applications process may still be ongoing.
This is worth mentioning since this is an indication that we the people can still have some positive effect in justifying the wrong done by the government.
I especially commend the efforts of many individuals, such as Attorney Jonathan Turley (George Washington University School of Law) and citizens’ watchdog groups on government accountability, such as the Federation of American Scientists (FAS) that played a major role in bringing this issue to the government.
Not only do we have the right to know how our hard-earned tax dollars are being spent but also the right to know and be assured that all Black Project programs are conducted without any environmental infractions.
Likewise, in the next few years, our goal is to bring out to the public a possible cover-up of the alleged Dulce underground installations in New Mexico (suspected biological warfare research facilities?) (IF SUCH INSTALLATIONS ARE PROVEN TO EXIST) and their possible environmental infractions on Jicarilla Apache Indian Reservation.
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
6-26-2008
FORMER AREA 51 WORKERS ELIGIBLE FOR AID — Downwinder designation OK’d
by Steve Tetreault
STEPHENS WASHINGTON BUREAU
WASHINGTON — Former Department of Energy and contractor employees who worked at top secret Area 51 base now are eligible to seek health payments available to nuclear weapons workers who got sick from their jobs, a top federal official said Wednesday.
The announcement by Shelby Hallmark, director of the Office of Worker Compensation in the Labor Department, cleared an obstacle that has prevented some former Nevada workers from getting help to battle job-related cancers and other serious illnesses that showed up years after they completed careers at weapons sites.
Hallmark said the Labor Department has designated Area 51, the 60-square mile guarded installation on the northeast border of Nevada Test Site (*now renamed N2S2, National Security Site), as part of the test site for purposes of the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation program.
Initial estimates varied widely of how many people might be eligible to gain payments, form less than a hundred to several thousand.
While the Energy Department controlled Area 51 for much of its history, the secret development of military aircraft and weaponry at the site was performed by Defense Department contractors who are not covered by the compensation law, Morgan said.
But John Funk, a Las Vegas advocate and former test site carpenter, said it was clear to workers employed by Bechtel Nevada, Reynolds Electrical and Engineering Company, EG & G Energy Measurements Inc., and Wackenhut Services, Inc., among other firms, that they were there at the behest of DOE and its predecessor agencies.
Funk said test site employees routinely were sent “over the hill” to the secret base. He said as many as 2,000 former workers may be covered.
“You can call them what you want, but they were all DOE workers”, said Funk, chairman of the nonprofit Atomic Veterans and Victims of America.
Labor Department officials could not estimate the number of potentially covered workers.
Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., is attempting to clarify the eligibility question, aides said.
As for designating Area 51 part of the health program, Reid said, “This is very good news”.
“I have been working for this for a long time now because these workers deserve a fair shake”, Reid said. “Clearly, there are still some questions that need to be answered and I will continue to work to have those concerns addressed”.
Hallmark said in an interview that examiners will identify all claims that have been filed to determine if they may be affected by the program expansion. Claims that have been denied may be reopened.
He suggessted former workers and their families who believe they may be affected should contact the Las Vegas Resource Center that processes claims under energy workers compensation act. The toll free number is: (866) 697-0841 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (866) 697-0841 end_of_the_skype_highlighting.
“We also will conduct other outreach efforst to get this information to all affected claimants and to all former NTS employees and their families who have yet to file a claim but may be affected by this change”, Hallmark said.
The compensation law covers the Nevada Test Site and dozens of other Energy Department and contractor facilities where workers took part in nuclear weapons programs and could have been exposed to radiation and toxics.
Former workers who contracted cancers or other diseases linked to exposures to radiation, silica or beryllium are eligible for $150,000 lump sum payments and medical expenses. Another part of the program provides worker compensation-style payments for job-related illnesses.
The Labor Department declared eligibility for DOE workers who were at Area 51 for the period between January 1, 1958 through December 31, 1999. Those were the years DOE controlled the site that is roughly 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas.
A land swap at the end of 1999 gave control to the Air Force.
http://www.lvrj.com/news/21762464.html
*The Nevada Test Site was renamed National Security Site (N2S2) just this year, 2010.
P.S.
Some of the potential issues concerning the alleged Dulce underground installations (suspected biological warfare research facilities?) (IF SUCH UNDERGROUND INSTALLATIONS ARE PROVEN TO EXIST) in New Mexico would be:
1) possible cover-up of the lingering effects of the government’s 1967 Project Gasbuggy experiment near Dulce, i.e., possible lingering radiation leakage in the region
2) allegations of toxic chemicals dumping in nearby mesas, i.e., Dulce and its nearby areas
3) allegations of some nuclear waste dumping in the region
4) allegations of cover-up of environmental impact from possible biological warfare experiments in the region (possible experiments in bovine diseases, anthrax, etc.)
5) allegations of health problems among some residents of Dulce (cancer, fertility problems, etc.)
and last but not least,
6) allegations of human rights violations
Norio Hayakawa