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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

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: W.R. Grace – Tennessee

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. W.R. Grace – Tennessee 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 awE facility and became ill, you may be entitled to compensation of up to $150K 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.

W.R. Grace – Tennessee

Also Known As: Nuclear Fuels Services, Davison Chemical
State: Tennessee
Location: Erwin
Time Period: AWE 1958-1970; Residual Radiation 1971-March 1, 2011
Facility Type: Atomic Weapons Employer

Facility Description: The Davison Chemical Division of W.R. Grace Co. (later Nuclear Fuel Services) processed unirradiated uranium scrap for the AEC, recovering enriched uranium from it for use in the nuclear weapons complex. Correspondence from 1963 also indicates that the company also worked with thorium, which was associated with their work for the civilian nuclear reactor industry and the naval reactors program.

During the period of residual contamination, as designated by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and as noted in the dates above, employees of subsequent owners and operators of this facility are also covered under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act.

Listing:
W.R. Grace is listed as an Atomic Weapons Employer (AWE) site under the EEOICPA.

Special Exposure Cohort (SEC) Classes:
Atomic Weapons Employer (AWE) employees who were monitored or should have been monitored for potential exposure to thorium while working in any of the 100 series buildings or Buildings 220, 230, 233, 234, 301, or 310 at the W. R. Grace site at Erwin, Tennessee for a number of work days aggregating at least 250 work days from January 1, 1958, through December 31, 1970, or in combination with work days within the parameters established for one or more other classes of employees in the Special Exposure Cohort.

Location: Erwin, Tennessee
Job Titles and/or Job Duties: All workers
Period of Employment: January 1, 1958 through December 31, 1970

Compensation:
As of 01/08/2023, the total compensation paid under Part B of the EEOICPA, including medical compensation, for workers suffering from the effects of having worked at W.R. Grace is $34,585,785.  Click here for a current accounting of compensation paid to former Workers under the EEOICPA.

W.R. Grace Workers:
If you or your parent worked at this or any other AWE facility and became ill, you may be entitled to compensation of up to $150K 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 14214.

*SITE DESCRIPTION, HISTORY, AND PROCESS:
The Davison Chemical Company, a division of W.R. Grace, began processing radioactive materials in the late 1950s at the site of the current Nuclear Fuel Services (NFS) facility near Erwin, Tennessee (NFS 2005).

The Report to Joint Committee on Atomic Energy Congress of the United States by the United States General Accounting Office (GAO 1967, p.5-6) from September 14, 1967, states: AEC authorized the Davison Chemical Division of W.R. Grace & Company (Grace) to receive and process special nuclear material under license number SNM-124. Grace received its first material as an AEC licensee by lease agreement in March 1958 and its first nuclear material as an AEC contractor in May 1959.

In 1964, NFS was formed by the merger of W.R. Grace and the American Machine and Foundry Company. In 1965, the UO2/PuO2 MOX facility was completed, and in 1968, the light-water breeder reactor thorium, thoria, and 233U oxide program was initiated (NFS 2005). Ownership of NFS transitioned from Getty Oil to Texaco as part of a stock buyout of Getty Oil in 1969. In 1987, NFS Services, a private Atlanta-based limited partnership, purchased NFS from Texaco. Figure 2-1 shows the location of Erwin, Tennessee. Figure 2-2 shows the principal site infrastructure for the NFS facility in 1986 (Congress 1986, p.108).

Regulatory authority over operations was originally under the AEC (1954 to 1974) and changed to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) (1975 to present) under Special Nuclear Material License SNM-124, as amended.

The principal operation at the site has been to convert HEU and LEU from UF6 to a product that meets customer requirements. Thorium, DU, 233U, and plutonium have also been processed at various times to oxides or metals with subsequent processing into the form necessary for the manufacture of nuclear fuel. Specific tasks at the facility included (1) processing ThO2 that was mixed with 233U to make the light-water breeder reactor fuel for the Shipping port Reactor and (2) fabricating plutonium and DU MOX fuel for the South-West Experimental Fast Oxide Reactor (SEFOR) in Building 234 with laboratory capabilities in Building 110; both operations ceased in 1970 (Congress 1986, p. 31). Other operations were associated with the conversion operations such as scrap recovery operations (uranium and other nuclear fuel material) and cleaning and certification of empty cylinders for transport of LEU UF6. Table 2-1 lists the approximate processing history of the site.

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*Source

DOCUMENTS:

NIOSH SEC Petition Evaluation Reports
Petition 82 (Jan 1, 1958 to Dec 31, 1970)
SEC Petition Evaluation Report, Petition SEC-00082, Rev # 0
Report Submittal Date 3-26-2007

Technical Basis Documents
An Exposure Matrix for W.R. Grace and Company in Erwin, Tennessee