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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: De Soto Avenue Facility

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. De Soto Avenue Facility 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.

De Soto Avenue Facility

State: California
Location: Los Angeles County
Time Period: DOE 1959-1995; DOE Remediation 1998
Facility Type: Department of Energy

Facility Description:
In 1959, the Atomics International Division of North American Aviation moved to its new facility on De Soto Avenue. AEC/DOE work conducted at this location included engineering design, construction, and nuclear fuel fabrication. The facility also had a radio chemistry laboratory and a gamma irradiation facility. The fuel fabrication facility was used to produce a variety of different fuel elements for test reactors. AEC-sponsored work involving the manufacture of beryllium-containing parts also took place at this site. Fuel fabrication was terminated in 1984, however small scale laboratory research work on gamma irradiation and analysis of radioactive samples continued until 1995. A DOE-owned mass spectrometer at this location was removed from the premises and sent to the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in 1995.

Remedial activities occurred at various times in the 1980’s followed by license termination by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. In 1998, decontamination and decommissioning of the mass spectrometer laboratory, funded by the DOE was performed by The Boeing Company. In 1998, decontamination and decommissioning of the state-licensed gamma irradiation facility was performed by The Boeing Company.

CONTRACTORS: The Boeing Company (1996-1998); Rockwell International (1973-1996); North American Rockwell (1967-1973): North American Aviation (1959-1967).

Listing:
De Soto Avenue Facility 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 De Soto Avenue Facility in Los Angeles County, California, from January 1, 1959 through December 31, 1964, 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 included in the Special Exposure Cohort.

(Note: This class was established from Petition 168)

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 De Soto Avenue Facility is $61,975,992. Click here for a current accounting of compensation paid to former De Soto Avenue Facility Workers under the EEOICPA.

De Soto Avenue Facility 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.

*NIOSH Site Profile:
Radiological operations occurred at the DeSoto Facility from 1959 to the mid-1990s. AI used nuclear fuel material and other radioactive materials in Buildings 101 and 104 from 1959 to 1983. A much-reduced level of work was continued by Rocketdyne in Building 104 into the mid-1990s. Before 1984, Buildings 101 and 104 were designated as 001 and 004. Much of the historical documentation refers to these building numbers. The following paragraphs briefly summarize the nuclear operations in these buildings.

L-77 Reactor (NRC Licensed). The L-77 small research reactor operated in Room 416-61 of Building 104 from 1960 to 1976. The L-77 was a low-power (10 W) reactor using enriched uranyl sulfate solution. The L-77 was a prototype teaching reactor sold to many universities and around the world. The laboratory housing L-77 was decommissioned and decontaminated in the late 1970s. The NRC released the facility for unrestricted use and terminated the reactor’s license in February 1982.

Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) Fuel Fabrication and Supporting Activities. NRC-licensed fuel fabrication operations were conducted in the northern section of the first floor of Building 101, with radiochemistry support operations conducted on the first and second floors of Building 104. These support activities included hot chemistry laboratories (east section of second floor), an emission spectroscopy laboratory (Room 411-72, first floor), and an X-ray diffraction laboratory (Room 411-58, first floor). The fuel fabrication facility produced a variety of different fuel elements for test reactors. Many fuel manufacturing programs began in 1959 using 2% to 93% enriched uranium metal and composites. Some of the work involved developing uranium-aluminum alloys and, because of the uranium, occurred in sealed gloveboxes. One of the larger programs was fuel manufacture for the ATR using uranium-aluminum (UAlX) powder with an enrichment of 93%. Fuel manufacturing ended in 1983. In addition, AEC-sponsored work involving the manufacture of beryllium-containing parts took place at this site.

D&D of Buildings 101 and 104 included removal of all fuel and radioactive materials and waste; removal of contaminated equipment, drain lines, tanks, and ventilation ducts; and cleaning of all surfaces including floors, walls, and ceilings.

Gamma Irradiation Facility (GIF). This state-licensed aboveground vault in Building 104 used sealed 137Cs and 60Co sources for radiation hardening tests of electronic components and for food irradiation research. The Gamma Irradiation Facility consisted of Rooms 41M-11 and 41M-11A on the northeast corner of Building 104. Activity ceased in the late 1980s, and the sources were shipped off the site for recycling in the early 1990s. Bi-annual leak checks of these sources detected no leaks. In 1995, a Rocketdyne survey of the GIF verified that it was not contaminated.

Mass Spectroscopy Laboratory (Helium Laboratory). Up until 1995, Rocketdyne used the state- licensed Mass Spectroscopy Laboratory to analyze miniature radioactive specimens of neutron-irradiated nonfissile metals from DOE and international reactors for helium content. The Mass Spectroscopy Laboratory consisted of Rooms 414-69, 416-72, 414-75, 416-76, 416-76A, 414-77, 416-80, 416-80A, and 414-81 in the northeast section of the 1st floor of Building 104. Operations of the DeSoto Mass Spectrometer Laboratory generated very small quantities of radioactive, hazardous, and mixed waste, including radioactive solvents, solvent wipes, and acids shipped from other U.S. and international research organizations. In 1995, the equipment was shipped to Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland, Washington, where it continues to be used.

Fuel fabrication was terminated in 1984, but small-scale laboratory research work on gamma irradiation and analysis of radioactive samples continued until 1995. Remedial activities occurred at various times in the 1980s followed by NRC license termination. In mid-1998, all remaining equipment, interior walls, and drain lines were removed, and the facility was decontaminated. Residual contamination was low level and confined to the laboratory. No elevated radiation levels or contamination outside the laboratory were detected before or during D&D.

Former sewage lines connecting sinks and showers at Building 101 were plumbed into a network that discharged into a pair of 1,500-gal steel holding tanks. The tanks allowed sufficient time for sampling and analysis of the sanitary water before discharge to the main municipal sewer line. If the concentration of radionuclides was below the MPC, the water was released to the municipal sewer. Overly contaminated water would have been transported to the RMDF for evaporation, but no water in the holding tanks was ever above the MPC. During decommissioning of the facility in the 1980s, radioactive contamination of the small areas of soils adjacent to some of the drain lines was slightly above acceptable limits. Approximately 10 of 140 soil samples had activities in the range of 50 to 80 pCi/g in comparison to the NRC limit of 48 pCi/g. D&D included the removal of the holding tanks and excavation of contaminated soil. The outflow lines from the holding tanks to the main sewer between Buildings 101 and 104 remain in place.
*Source

DOCUMENTS:
NIOSH SEC Petition Evaluation Reports:
Petition 168 (Jan 1, 1959 to Dec 31, 1964)
SEC Petition Evaluation Report – Petition SEC-00168 – Report Rev #: 0
Report Submittal Date: March 24, 2010

Technical Basis Documents
Site Profile
Atomics International -Introduction
Effective Date: 08/30/2006

Energy Technology Engineering Center -Site Description
Effective Date: 02/02/2006

Area IV of the Santa Susana Field Laboratory, the Canoga Avenue Facility (Vanowen Building), the Downey Facility, and the De Soto Avenue Facility (sometimes referred to as Energy Technology Engineering Center [ETEC] or Atomics International) -Occupational Medical Dose
Effective Date: 10/31/2008

Area IV of the Santa Susana Field Laboratory, the Canoga Avenue Facility, the Downey Facility, and the De Soto Avenue Facility (sometimes referred to as Energy Technology Engineering Center [ETEC] or Atomics International) -Occupational Environmental Dose
Effective Date: 04/26/2010

Area IV of the Santa Susana Field Laboratory, the Canoga Avenue Facility, the Downey Facility, and the De Soto Avenue Facility (sometimes referred to as Energy Technology Engineering Center [ETEC] or Atomics International) -Occupational Internal Dose
Effective Date: 04/26/2010

Area IV of the Santa Susana Field Laboratory, the Canoga Avenue Facility, the Downey Facility, and the De Soto Avenue Facility (sometimes referred to as Energy Technology Engineering Center [ETEC] or Atomics International) -Occupational External Dose
Effective Date: 04/26/2010