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. Hanford 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.
Hanford
Also Known As: Hanford Engineer Works (HEW), Richland
State: Washington
Location: Richland
Time Period: 1942-present
Facility Type: Department of Energy
Facility Description:
Hanford was established in 1942, as a major government-owned nuclear weapons production site, fabricating reactor fuel, operating nine nuclear material production reactors and building five major chemical separation plants, and producing plutonium for nuclear weapons.
Later operations also included nonmilitary applications of nuclear energy. In 1965, the laboratory functions performed at Hanford were separately identified as Pacific Northwest Laboratory (renamed Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in 1995) and were operated by Battelle Memorial Institute. This work took place on the premises of the Hanford site through the end of 2004. Beginning in 2005, Battelle also began operating a separate facility in Richland where some of these laboratory functions were performed.
Throughout its operations, the potential for beryllium exposure existed at this site, due to beryllium use, residual contamination, and decontamination activities.
CONTRACTORS:
Entire Site: Fluor Daniel (1994-present); Westinghouse Hanford (1987- 1994); General Electric Company (1946-1965); E.I. Du Pont de Nemours & Company (1943-1946)
Reactor Operations: UNC Nuclear Industries (1973-1987); United Nuclear Industries (1967-1973); Douglas United Nuclear (1965-1967)
Chemical Reprocessing: Rockwell Hanford Company (1977-1987); Atlantic-Richfield Hanford Company (1967-1977); Isochem, Incorporated (1965-1967)
Pacific Northwest Laboratory: Battelle Memorial Institute (1965-present)
Listing:
Hanford, a.k.a. Hanford Engineer Works (HEW) is listed as a Department of Energy (DOE) site under the EEOICPA.
Special Exposure Cohort (SEC) Classes:
The SEC classes for HEW include:
Employees of the Department of Energy (DOE), its predecessor agencies, or DOE contractors or subcontractors who were monitored or should have been monitored for internal radiological exposures while working at the Hanford Engineer Works in: the 300 Area fuel fabrication and research facilities from October 1, 1943 through August 31, 1946; the 200 Area plutonium separation facilities from November 1, 1944 through August 31, 1946; or the 100 B, D, and F reactor areas from September 1, 1944 through August 31, 1946; for a number of work days aggregating at least 250 work days or in combination with work days within the parameters established for one or more other classes of employees in the Special Exposure Cohort.
(Note: This class was established from Petition 57)
Employees of the Department of Energy (DOE), its predecessor agencies, and DOE contractors or subcontractors who worked from September 1, 1946 through December 31, 1961 in the 300 area, or January 1, 1949 through December 31, 1968 in the 200 areas (East and West) at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation in Richland, Washington, for a number of work days aggregating at least 250 work days occurring either solely under this employment or in combination with work days within the parameters established for one or more other classes of employees in the Special Exposure Cohort.
Note: This class was established from Petition 57
All employees of the Department of Energy, its predecessor agencies, and its contractors and subcontractors who worked at the Hanford site in Richland, Washington, from October 1, 1943, through June 30, 1972, for a number of work days aggregating at least 250 work days, occurring either solely under this employment or in combination with work days within the parameters established for one or more other classes of employees included in the Special Exposure Cohort.
Note: This class was established from Petition 152
All employees of the Department of Energy, its predecessor agencies, and their contractors and subcontractors who worked at the Hanford Engineer Works in Richland, Washington, from July 1, 1972, through December 31, 1983, for a number of work days aggregating at least 250 work days, occurring either solely under this employment or in combination with work days within the parameters established for one or more other classes of employees included in the Special Exposure Cohort.
Note: This class was established from Petition 201
The SEC now includes U.S. Department of Energy contractors and subcontractors who worked at the Hanford site from January 1, 1984, through December 31, 1990, for at least 250 days total, either solely under this employment or in combination with work days within the parameters established for one or more other classes of employees included in the SEC.
The SEC excludes employees of the following Hanford contractors during the time periods specified below:
- Battelle Memorial Institute, January 1, 1984 through December 31, 1990;
- Rockwell Hanford Operations, January 1, 1984 through June 28, 1987;
- Boeing Computer Services Richland, January 1, 1984 through June 28, 1987;
- UNC Nuclear Industries, January 1, 1984 through June 28, 1987;
- Westinghouse Hanford Company, January 1, 1984 through December 31, 1990; and
- Hanford Environmental Health Foundation, January 1, 1984 through December 31, 1990.
History:
The Hanford Site in the state of Washington was created in January 1943 to produce plutonium as part of the Manhattan Project. The site was chosen because of its proximity to the Columbia River needed to cool nuclear reactors, rail accessibility, and the availability of hydroelectricity derived from dams along the Columbia River. Hundreds of buildings were constructed on the site and eventually, about 50,000 people lived there. By the mid-60’s the need for plutonium had decreased and eventually all eight single-purpose plutonium reactors were closed. In 1975 Hartford engaged in energy research until 1989 when the main mission became waste cleanup. No plutonium has been produced on-site since that time.
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 working at Hanford is $2,093,392,962.
Click here for a current accounting of compensation paid to former Hanford Workers under the EEOICPA.
Hanford 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.
Hanford EEOICPA accepted Illnesses
Over the years, we have helped our clients including current and former Hanford employees successfully file claims for certain cancers and other illnesses under the EEOICPA.
Some of the illnesses our clients have been compensated for include Pneumoconiosis, Asthma, Hearing loss, Restrictive lung disease, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Pleural plaques, pulmonary fibrosis, Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), and Sarcoidosis.
Some of the cancers we have successfully claimed compensation for our clients include Acute myeloid leukemia (AML), Bladder cancer, Lung cancer, Kidney cancer, Lymphoma, Ovarian cancer, Breast cancer, Prostate cancer, Pancreatic cancer, Skin cancer, Colon cancer, and Thyroid cancer.
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 detailed description of the activities at Hanford can be seen below:
Another view of Hanford’s operations can be seen here:
And the results of Hanford’s activities can be seen in this video:
DOCUMENTS:
NIOSH Special Exposure Cohort (SEC) Petition Evaluation Reports
Petition 50 (1943 to Sep 1, 1946)
Please see Petition 57
Petition 57 (Jan 2, 1942 to Dec 31, 1990)
SEC Petition Evaluation Report, Petition SEC-00057-2, Report Rev #:1
Report Submittal Date: March 26, 2008
Petition 78 (Apr 25, 1967 to Feb 1, 1971)
Please see Petition 57
Petition 152 (Oct 1, 1943 to Jun 30, 1972)
SEC Petition Evaluation Report, Petition SEC-00152, Report Rev #: 0
Report Submittal Date: September 28, 2009
Petition 155 (Jan 1, 1987 to Dec 31, 1989)
SEC Petition Evaluation Report, Petition SEC-00155, Report Rev #: 0
Report Submittal Date: April 28, 2011
Petition 201 (Jul 1, 1972 to Dec 31, 1983)
SEC Petition Evaluation Report, Petition SEC-00201, Report Rev #: 0
Report Submittal Date: May 31, 2012
Petition 226 (Jan 1, 1984 to Dec 31, 1990)
SEC Petition Evaluation Report, Petition SEC-00226, Report Rev #: 0
Report Submittal Date: March 16, 2015
Technical Basis Documents
Site Profile
Hanford Site – Introduction
Effective Date: 03/02/2010
Hanford Site – Site Description
Effective Date: 02/22/2010
Hanford Site – Occupational Medical Dose
Effective Date: 01/23/2017
Hanford Site – Occupational Environmental Dose
Effective Date: 01/07/2010
Hanford Site – Occupational Internal Dose
Effective Date: 11/16/2015
Hanford Site – Occupational External Dose
Effective Date: 01/07/2010