More time needed on Flats aid cases, advisory panel says
By Laura Frank, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Originally published 05:46 p.m., April 9, 2008
Updated 11:53 p.m., April 9, 2008
White House advisers said Wednesday they need more time to study problems that threaten to keep some eligible Rocky Flats workers off the fast track for federal compensation and medical coverage.
The decision disappointed Rocky Flats workers and advocates, who already had waited more than 800 days before government officials determined in June that only a small group of sick workers deserved immediate aid.
The rest have to prove that their ailments are related to their jobs making atomic bomb triggers at the now-demolished site near Denver - a process that can take years.
Jennifer Thompson, a former Flats worker who led the effort for streamlined aid, said the continued controversy over who deserves help shows that the government made the wrong decision last summer.
"They made decisions with insufficient information," Thompson said.
On Wednesday, members of the White House Advisory Committee on Radiation and Worker Health said they needed to do more research.
"I think if we're going to solve this Rocky Flats problem, we're going to have to figure out if there's a better way to define" who deserves to get help right away, said James Melius, a board member and New York physician.
"They punted," said worker advocate Terrie Barrie, of Craig. "It's more investigation and delay, delay, delay."
The government qualifies a Rocky Flats worker for streamlined benefits if, among other criteria, work records show that the employee was assigned to a particularly dangerous building during certain years.
The workers want the board to include more buildings on the list of most dangerous places
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April 10, 2008
11:27 p.m.
Suggest removal
ABlock35 writes:
Dear Dr. Melius:
Time for figuring out who deserves help right away is over- people are dying! This program shouldn't be a "pay as you train" program. We know what toxics cause cancer and we certainly know what cancers are caused by radiation.
Stop stalling Rocky Flats SEC status!
Anne K. Block is a former examiner, a licensed WA attorney, and a Writer. Anne welcomes stories from victims, claimants and especially former and current government employees.