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Former nuclear workers may get federal help

Those who once worked at a plant in Largo and whose illnesses can be traced to materials there may receive compensation.

By WILL VAN SANT
Published August 24, 2005

ST. PETERSBURG - For decades, workers at a now defunct General Electric plant in Largo helped fight the Cold War by building trigger mechanisms for nuclear weapons.

But many may have paid a great price.

Bob Meals, who worked at the Bryan Dairy Road plant for 31 years, has compiled the names of former colleagues whom he believes died or fell ill from exposure to radioactive material and other dangerous materials.

Hundreds of names are on the list, said Meals, who at 57 remains in good health.

On Tuesday, Meals was among roughly 80 former plant workers and their loved ones who met at the Radisson Hotel & Conference Center in St. Petersburg to hear about changes to a federal program that offers cash and help with medical care to those whose illnesses can be linked to the work they did for the government.

It's a program Meals said has done little or nothing for former General Electric plant employees.

"There have have been hundreds and hundreds of claims filled out," he said before the government's presentation began. "I don't know of anybody that has gotten a nickel."

Several federal Labor Department employees attended, including John Vance, who works in the agency's Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program.

Vance said he was aware of the frustration felt by many in the room and that changes to the program were under way. For years, he said, filed claims had sat on the shelves at the Energy Department, which had contracted with General Electric and other private businesses for military work during the Cold War.

Thanks to an act of Congress in October, he said the Labor Department was taking over and expanding key aspects of the program. As part of the changes, he said, workers whose illnesses can be traced to materials other than radioactive ones will be eligible for compensation.

Settlements of up to $250,000 and money for medical care are possible under the revamped program, he said.

Vance stressed that his agency was given the job because of its worker compensation expertise and because the energy department was taking too long to process settlement claims.

He also acknowledged that workers had legitimate concerns and were likely exposed to harm.

In an interview afterward, Vance said 1,020 former plant workers or their relatives had filed claims. Of those, nine had been approved and $1,050,000 paid out. Two other claims had been approved, but the estimated $125,000 payment in each case is yet to be made, he said.

[Last modified August 24, 2005, 01:16:13]