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EEOICPA & RECA Attorneys

Stephens & Stephens has obtained over $60 million through the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act and the Energy Employees Occupation Illness Compensation Act for our clients

Gloria ReynoldsGloria Reynolds
04:16 30 Mar 24
Stephens & Stephens was very helpful in getting my claim processed and helping me in getting my settlement, staff was knowledgeable and professional and very kind if I call and needed to ask a question they would call me back within a timely manner. Thank you so much for your help .Continue to be blessed Gloria
Dee GodfreyDee Godfrey
18:49 12 Mar 24
I was astounded with the service I received from Mr. Hugh Stephens in regard to my husband's compensation claim. He was not only efficient, but also compassionate, and communicated clearly and frequently. Because of his outstanding efforts and expertise, I, who am now a grieving widow, am unexpectedly stabile and secure. I had little to do. He did all the heavy lifting. I'm so very grateful for his help. I'll always remember not only his professionalism, but also his kindness.
Audrey OgletreeAudrey Ogletree
22:19 09 Mar 24
From: Laurence OgletreeI received good assistance from Stephens & Stephens in submitting the recent claim for increased impairment benefits from the Energy Workers program.
Randy MooreRandy Moore
14:48 07 Mar 24
I was a machinist at Honeywell F.M.&T.and developed bilateral tinnitus and bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. They helped me file a claim with EEOICPA in 2017. Stephen’s & Stephen’s was very good to work with, they take care of all the paperwork and help with any paperwork I receive from the Department of Labor. They stay on top of things helping with scheduling impairment reviews etc.I feel that without their help this would have been a very overwhelming process.I plan on still using them if any other illnesses occur due to my employment with Honeywell.
Mike DauzatMike Dauzat
15:54 02 Mar 24
I highly recommend Stevens and Stevens. Hugh Stevens and his staff are very professional and very friendly. They're extremely good at making sure you get the full amount of money you deserve. If you need a DOL lawyer, I highly recommend this team. I can't be more happy that I picked Stevens and Stevens.
Mary YbarraMary Ybarra
01:33 27 Feb 24
Stephen’s and Stephen’s has kept fight for my dad. Now they are fight for my mom. They are on top of things and I would recommend them to anyone who needs help and guidance with the Uranium mines.
Dianne HarperDianne Harper
01:02 17 Feb 24
Robert and I are very pleased with Mr. Hugh Stephens and all that he has done for us. From the first moment we spoke, we sensed that though Mr. Stephens exhibits sharp business acumen, he cares deeply about his clients and he has a huge heart.
Diane pontonDiane ponton
17:38 07 Feb 24
I tried to get others to help me with this claim, and it wasn"t until I hired Mr. Stephens that things started happening. I would recommend any one to get in touch with him . I would go to him again, if i ever needed to.
Judy LeonardJudy Leonard
22:26 06 Feb 24
I very much appreciate the successful litigation concerning my husband's Hanford work related illness. Stephens & Stephens LLP were thorough, caring, considerate, and fair during this difficult time.
Kenneth GKenneth G
18:23 03 Feb 24
Mr. Stephens was able to simplify an otherwise complicated lengthy process (DEEOIC) to file an initial claim as well as a claim for impairment benefits.
dave DONAIDdave DONAID
18:08 03 Feb 24
Frankie KnucFrankie Knuc
19:24 08 Jan 24
I had other attorneys hired in Cortez, Colorado and Grand Jct., Colorado to assist me with receiving my uranium claim, but they were not successful. I was advised by an employee of CNS of Stephens & Stephens, LLP good work. I contacted them & they took my case It was settled very quickly. I have been very pleased with this group & would advise others of their prompt service. I would recommend them to others. Respectfully, Frankie Knuckles
Rebecca ConsolRebecca Consol
19:57 22 Dec 23
My family used Stephen’s and Stephen’s for a settlement case. We were extremely pleased with all they did. They were very professional, easy to get a hold of, and invaluable when it came to answering questions and handling complicated Department of Labor issues and forms. They also did everything in a very timely manner. I have already recommended them to other people.
Thomas CliffordThomas Clifford
15:29 21 Dec 23
I have been represented by Hugh Stevens for several years now, He and his staff has made everything so easy for me. I had lung cancer from working in the uranium processing industry, they have opened so many doors for me and made dealing with DOL so much easier. They always answer my questions in a very timely manner. I have referred several other people to him and he has been able to get them through this process also. There are benefits that I was not aware of that he has brought to my attention and been able to lead me through the process of obtaining them. I would most highly recommend him to lead anyone through this process.
Lonnie killingHawkLonnie killingHawk
02:35 14 Dec 23
When I first contacted Stephens & Stephens I was at the end of my rope with DOL. Hough and his staff got me on track and handled everything with DOL and just made this process so easy. Do not know where I'd be with out them. They are able to communicate at a layman's level and understand the client. Would strongly recommend this firm.
Ruthy LyonRuthy Lyon
21:00 28 Sep 23
Our initial conversation with Mr. Stephens was productive & reassuring. His previous experience with similar cases was obvious and very helpful, in both asking us specific questions for clarification & also addressing our own questions. Breanna is also a great asset to their team.
James O'DayJames O'Day
15:07 13 Sep 23
I have referred several friends to Hugh Stephens and they were more satisfied than they ever expected. I would refer him with confidence to anyone in need. I trust when he speaks for me, for example, in court. He is a good communicator and a deep thinker. He is well respected in his profession. He handles environmental law, injury law, and medical malpractice. He is tactful and direct and knows what he is doing. He knows the legal briar patches well.
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EEOICPA Covered Facilities: S-50 Oak Ridge Thermal Diffusion Plant

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. S-50 Oak Ridge Thermal 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.

S-50 Oak Ridge Thermal Diffusion Plant

State: Tennessee
Location: Oak Ridge
Time Period: 1944-1951
Facility Type: Department of Energy

Facility Description: The S-50 Plant at Oak Ridge was constructed in 1944 to enrich uranium feed material for the Y-12 electromagnetic facility using a liquid thermal diffusion process. The process was originally developed at theNaval Research Laboratory in Washington, DC, and tested on a pilot plant level at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. Located near the K-25 gaseous diffusion facility, the S-50 Plant operated for a limited period during 1944- 1945. The plant was closed in September 1945 because the thermal diffusion process was not as efficient as the gaseous diffusion.

The S-50 plant was reopened in 1946 as part of the joint Air Force/AEC project to investigate the possibility of developing a nuclear-powered airplane. This project, known as Nuclear Energy for the Propulsion of Aircraft (NEPA), was housed at S-50 and the contractor was the Fairchild Engine and Aircraft Corporation. Fairchild’s NEPA Division at S-50 conducted a number of experiments involving beryllium powder during the time period 1946-1951.

Listing:
S-50 Oak Ridge Thermal Diffusion Plant is listed as  Department of Energy (DOE) site under the EEOICPA.

Special Exposure Cohort (SEC) Classes:
Employees of the DOE predecessor agencies and their contractors and subcontractors who were monitored or should have been monitored while working at the S-50 Oak Ridge Thermal Diffusion Plant working for a number of work days aggregating at least 250 work day during the period from July 9, 1944, through December 31, 1951, or in combination with work days within the parameters established for one or more other classes of employees in the SEC.

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 S-50 Oak Ridge Thermal Diffusion Plant is $15,623,667. Click here for a current accounting of compensation paid to former S-50 Workers under the EEOICPA.

S-50 Oak Ridge Thermal 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.

* SITE DESCRIPTION:
The S-50 Liquid Thermal Diffusion Plant was a wartime uranium enrichment facility constructed in 1944 adjacent to the K-25 facility in Oak Ridge, Tennessee by H. K. Ferguson Company and operated by Fercleve Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of H. K. Ferguson Company that was organized for the sole purpose of operating the Plant. Groundbreaking for the facility was on July 9, 1944, and construction was complete on October 31, 1944. The main process building dimensions were 522 ft long by 62 ft wide by 75 ft high; the building had a concrete floor and foundation, and steel frames, sides, and roof (MED 1947). Uranium enrichment began on September 16, 1944, before construction was complete. Thermal diffusion operations shut down on September 9, 1945 (DOE 2005).

There was a tremendous amount of emphasis placed on high production output at this facility. Processed uranium from the Plant was used as feed material for the Y-12 facility, where it was further enriched; some of this material was used in the bomb dropped over Hiroshima (“Little Boy”). Operations at S-50 generally continued around the clock. The number of individuals employed by Fercleve Corporation reached a maximum of more than 1,500 in April 1945 (MED 1947).

Feed material came from Harshaw Chemical Company of Cleveland, Ohio, in nickel shipping containers as uranium hexafluoride (UF6). The liquid thermal diffusion process at S-50 increased 235U enrichment from natural (0.71%) to 0.85% (MED 1947).

The process to enrich uranium at S-50 consisted of multiple columns, each of which contained three concentric pipes. High-pressure (1,000-psig) steam passed through the innermost nickel pipe, which was inside a copper pipe. UF6 was batch-charged into the gap between the nickel and copper pipes at about 1,500 psig. The nickel and copper pipes were inside the outermost steel pipe. Cold water passed between the steel pipe and the outer wall of the copper pipe. The enrichment process utilized convective flow, whereby the lighter 235U molecules tended to move upward along the hot nickel pipe wall while the heavier 238U molecules moved downward along the cold copper wall (MED 1947). A graph of the production output from S-50 (Percentage of Original Theoretical Maximum Output) showed the racks operated at less than 5% until January 1945, at which time the production increased gradually to a maximum of approximately 90% in June 1945 (MED 1947).

Losses of UF6 were common during S-50 operations, with UF6 often escaping into the air or cooling water (MED 1947). The losses usually resulted from internal or external breaks in columns or other parts of the process, which were caused by failure of the materials under the high operating pressures. Other losses resulted from improper handling of open connections and from operational mistakes due, in part, to the number of new employees at the facility and the emphasis on high production rates. From March through July 1945, monthly losses of UF6 ranged from 247 to 1,826 lb (DOE 2005). Accountability records showing losses for other months of operation are unavailable. The released UF6 would rapidly oxidize and form uranyl fluoride (UO2F2) (DOE 2005), which would either exhaust through the building roof or settle to the process building floor. Operators were required to have a gas mask on their persons at all times for emergencies (MED 1947).

The S-50 Plant ceased enrichment operation in September 1945, shortly after the war ended (MED 1947). The uranium enrichment process used at S-50 was unique in that it was the only production-scale liquid thermal diffusion facility ever built. S-50 closed because it had become evident that the liquid thermal diffusion process would not be competitive with the gaseous diffusion process.

Disassembly of the S-50 process equipment was done in the late 1940s, at which time it was removed from the main process building and transported to the K-25 Powerhouse Area, where it was stored for some time before being either salvaged or buried (DOE 2005).
*Source

DOCUMENTS:

NIOSH SEC Petition Evaluation Reports
Petition 60 (Jan 1, 1944 to Dec 31, 1951)
SEC Petition Evaluation Report, Petition SEC-00060,
Rev # 08-04-06, Report Submittal Date __________

Technical Basis Documents
Site Profile
Summary Site Profile for the S-50 Liquid Thermal Diffusion Project