NEWS

Who Gets Compensated for Radiation Exposure?

Since 1990, the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act has paid some $940 million to uranium mine workers, "downwinders," and "onsite participants"—nonmilitary personnel present for one or more of the 90 above-ground atomic detonations at the Nevada Test Site between 1951 and 1962. If diagnosed with one of 19 cancers, onsite participants receive $75,000 and downwinders living in counties in southern Nevada and Utah and northern Arizona at the time of the tests receive $50,000. Uranium miners, millers, and transporters receive $100,000 for certain lung diseases.

In 2001, the RECA fund ran dry, leaving approved claimants with government IOU's. An unknown number died before receiving their funds. In 2003, the General Accounting Office warned that the RECA fund would again run dry, leading Congress to approve additional funds that will supposedly keep the program solvent through 2007.


People compensated by RECA, by category
(as of July 21, 2005)
 Category        No. compensated        Claims accepted (%)        Approved amount (in millions)      

 Downwinders        9,186        76.9        $459      
 Onsite participants        890        43.4        $63.7      
 Uranium workers        4,197        63.3        $419      


Source: Department of Justice

 



             
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