The EEOICPA was passed in 2000. It provides compensation to workers who became ill as a result of their employment manufacturing nuclear weapons in the USA, as well as their spouses, children, and grandchildren. Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant EEOICPA coverage is available for qualified former Workers and their families.
Are you eligible for compensation? If you or a family member worked at this or another DOE facility and became ill, you may be entitled to compensation of up to $400K plus medical benefits. Call EEOICPA Counsel Hugh Stephens at 1-855-548-4494 or fill out our free claim evaluation, We can help even if you’ve already filed, even if your claim was denied!
Here, we have compiled publicly available information and documentation about the facilities covered by the Act to clarify how their activities relate to the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act.
Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant
State: Kentucky
Location: Paducah
Time Period: 1951-July 28, 1998; July 29, 1998 – present (Remediation)
Facility Type: Department of Energy
Facility Description: The Department of Energy’s (DOE) Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant opened in 1952 to enrich uranium for nuclear weapons. During the plant’s Cold War history, more than one million tons of uranium was processed.
Construction of the Paducah plant began in 1951 in response to the increased demand for enriched uranium for nuclear weapons production. Initial operations began in 1952 and full operation occurred in 1955. In addition to producing enriched uranium for weapons, the plant also supplied enriched uranium for the Navy and commercial fuel. The Paducah Plant also acted as the uranium hexafluoride feed point for all gaseous diffusion plants until1964. Throughout the course of its operations, the potential for beryllium exposure existed at this site.
On July 1, 1993, the United States Enrichment Corporation (USEC)*, a government-owned corporation formed under the Energy Policy Act of 1992, assumed control of the plant’s uranium enrichment activities. USEC, which was fully privatized in July 1998, continues to produce low enriched uranium for commercial use DOE remains responsible for addressing the environmental cleanup resulting from historic plant operations.
From 1952- July 28, 1998 (the date USEC was privatized) all 3,556 acres were exclusively controlled by the Government and considered the DOE facility. After that date, only roads and grounds outside the perimeter fence plus approximately 200 acres of grounds inside the fence remain under the exclusive control of DOE’s Office of Environmental Management. The remainder of the footprint is leased to USEC to support uranium enrichment operations.
ENRICHMENT OPERATIONS CONTRACTORS: Lockheed Martin Utility Services (1995-1999); Martin Marietta Utility Services (1993-1995); Martin Marietta Energy Systems (1984-1993); Union Carbide Corporation Nuclear Division (1952-1984).
DUF6 CONVERSION CONTRACTORS for design, construction and operation of the Depleted Uranium Hexafluoride Conversion Project: Babcock and Wilcox Conversion Services (2011-present); Uranium Disposition Services (2002-2011).
REMEDIATION CONTRACTORS: LATA Environmental Services of Kentucky (2010-present); Paducah Remediation Services-EM Remediation (2006-2010); Swift and Staley-EM Infrastructure Contractor (2005-present); Bechtel Jacobs Company (1998-2006); Lockheed Martin Energy Systems (1995-1998); Martin Marietta Energy Systems(1988**-1995).
* Note: Rights and liabilities pertaining to USEC are governed by the USEC Privatization Act (P.L. 104-134, April 26, 1996). This includes regulatory oversight by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission of that portion of the plant under USEC control.
** Note: In 1988, DOE began its environmental remediation program.
Listing:
The Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant is listed as a Department of Energy (DOE) site from 1951-present under the EEOICPA.
Special Exposure Cohort (SEC) Classes:
Gaseous Diffusion Plants–employees who worked at least 250 days before February 1, 1992, at a gaseous diffusion plant in Paducah, Kentucky; Portsmouth, Ohio; or Oak Ridge, Tennessee and who were or could have been monitored in those jobs using dosimetry badges
Note: The SEC was established by The Act. The Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant was one of the classes that Congress included when The Act was signed.
Compensation:
As of 01/08/2023, the total compensation paid under Parts B and E of the EEOICPA, including medical compensation, for workers suffering from the effects of having worked at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant is $1,177,698,311. Click here for a current accounting of compensation paid to former Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant Workers under the EEOICPA.
Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant Workers:
If you or your parent worked at this or any other DOE or AWE facility and became ill, you may be entitled to compensation of up to $400K plus medical benefits from the US Department of Labor. Call EEOICPA Counsel Hugh Stephens at 1-855-EEOICPA (336-4272) or fill out the form to the right, whether or not you have already filed a claim and even if your claim has been accepted or denied.
We can help with all OWCP (Federal Workers Compensation) claims, impairments, wage loss and health care. 2495 Main Street, Suite 442 Buffalo, NY.
Videos:
A History of the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant can be seen below:
The story of one Worker at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant can be heard below:
And another description of Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant here:
A somewhat grim assessment of the activities at Paducah is presented here:
DOCUMENTS:
Technical Basis Documents
Site Profile
Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant – Introduction
Effective Date: 08/23/2012, Revision: 02
Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant – Site Description
Effective Date: 08/22/2012, Revision: 03
Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant – Occupational Medical Dose
Effective Date: 08/23/2012, Revision: 03
Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant – Occupational External Dose
Effective Date: 02/13/2017, Rev. 05
SC&A
PADUCAH GASEOUS DIFFUSION PLANT ISSUES MATRIX
(October 2012)
Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant Site Profile Review
October 2006