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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: Medina Modification Center

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. Medina Modification Center 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.

Medina Modification Center

Also Known As: Medina Facility
State: Texas
Location: San Antonio
Time Period: 1958-1966
Facility Type: Department of Energy

Facility Description: The Medina Modification Center was established in 1958 for component testing, modification, repairs, and refinements. It operated until the early spring of 1966, at which point its functions were transferred to Burlington and Pantex.

Throughout the course of its operations, the potential for beryllium exposure existed at this site.

CONTRACTOR: Mason & Hanger-Silas Mason (1958-1966)

Listing:
Medina Modification Center is listed as a Department of Energy (DOE) site under the EEOICPA.

Special Exposure Cohort (SEC) Classes:
All employees of the Department of Energy, its predecessor agencies, and their contractors and subcontractors who worked at the Medina Modification Center in San Antonio, Texas, from January 1, 1958, through December 31, 1966, 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 203)

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 having worked at the Medina Modification Center is $12,390,012. Click here for a current accounting of compensation paid to former Medina Modification Center Workers under the EEOICPA.

Medina Modification Center 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.

We can help with all OWCP (Federal Workers Compensation) claims, impairments, wage loss and health care. 2495 Main Street, Suite 442 Buffalo, NY.

* SITE DESCRIPTION AND FUNCTIONS:
Medina Base, located on about 3,700 acres of Lackland Air Force Base southwest of San Antonio, was one of 13 WSAs created under the Armed Forces Special Weapons Project. Medina Base was constructed by the U.S. Air Force and the AEC between 1953 and 1955, with the first weapons components arriving in 1955. It was supported by SNL for the AEC and the Air Force. SNL, AEC, and the Air Force were all active at Medina from 1955 until early 1959, performing maintenance and quality assurance on nuclear components of weapons (Mitchell 2003).

The approved dates for applicability under EEOICPA for this site are 1958 through 1966 only.

During the AEC tenure, nuclear weapons and weapon components were stored by the AEC and maintained by SNL and Air Force personnel at the Medina WSA. WSAs were comprised of storage buildings that housed nuclear capsules, maintenance structures, waste burial sites, and bunkers used for storage of weapons casings. SNL personnel worked at Medina under contract to the AEC until early 1959 (Martin 2006a).

In 1958, MHSMC was chosen by the AEC to manage Medina Base, and construction of new facilities was undertaken. Three Gravel Gertie cells were constructed along with other specialized facilities that comprised the Medina Modification Center (Mitchell 2003). From April 1959 until 1966, MHSMC operated Medina for the AEC as a weapons modification and disassembly facility. The mission was to perform stockpile surveillance, modifications, retrofits, and weapon retirements (Carr ca. 1992). This work included inspections for corrosion and replacement of tritium reservoirs. Medina was operated by MHSMC until January 1966, when its mission was transferred to the Pantex Plant, and Medina Base was transferred back to the Air Force.

Site Description:
Lackland Air Force Base (AFB) is in the San Antonio metropolitan area in Bexar County, Texas (Figure A-1). Commercial and residential developments border Lackland AFB on the north, west, and south sides, and Kelly AFB borders it on the east. The western portion of Lackland AFB was the Medina Base, which is now designated the Lackland Training Annex. The Medina Base was comprised of four main areas designated as the 200 Area (general shops and stores), 300 Area (operations and storage), 400 Area (Plants 1 and 2, main production operations), and 500 Area (igloos and storage facilities). Two additional areas were the Burning Ground and the Railhead (Figure A-2) (Lamb Associates and Halliburton NUS 1995).

medina_mod_fig_a1_map

medina_mod_fig_a2_base_plan

November 13, 1963, Explosion:
On November 13, 1963, an explosion involving 50,500 kg (123,000 lb) of chemical high-explosive components of nuclear weapons occurred at the Medina site. Workers were placing subassemblies from dismantled atomic bombs into storage Igloo 572. The subassemblies, which were being stored for further processing and disposal, contained chemical high explosives, natural uranium, and DU. They were handled by a three-man crew – two forklift operators who moved them from a straddle carrier into the igloo and one man on the carrier.

Most of the load was in the igloo when, at about 10:24 a.m., the explosive in one of the subassemblies ignited. Seeing the flash, the drivers sprinted for cover, alerting the workers outside. For about 45 seconds the explosive burned, then it detonated with a force of more than 60 tons of TNT. The first explosion set off other subassemblies in the igloo and those still on the carrier. The igloo disappeared in a cloud of smoke and dust, leaving a crater some 20 ft deep. A large cloud of dust was seen near the ground moving downwind of the event.

In the 45 seconds between ignition and detonation, the three workers got away. Their injuries were minor. Adjacent igloos were not disturbed. The only known radioactive material involved was a mixture of DU and natural uranium. Fissile materials (enriched uranium or plutonium) were not involved in the accident.
*Source

DOCUMENTS:

NIOSH SEC Petition Evaluation Reports
Petition 203 (Jan 1, 1958 to Dec 31, 1966)
SEC Petition Evaluation Report, Petition SEC-00203, Rev #: 0
Report Submittal Date: May 31, 2012

Technical Basis Documents
Site Profile
Site Profile for Clarksville Modification Center with Supplementary Guidance for the
Medina Modification Center