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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: Area IV of the Santa Susana Field Laboratory

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. Area IV of the Santa Susana Field Laboratory 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.

Area IV of the Santa Susana Field Laboratory

Also Known As: Nuclear Development Field Laboratory (NDFL), Liquid Metal Engineering Center (LMEC),  Energy Technology Engineering Center (ETC)
State: California
Location: Santa Susana, Area IV
Time Period: DOE 1955-1988; DOE remediation 1988-present
Facility Type: Department of Energy

Facility Description:
The Santa Susana Field Laboratory (SSFL) is located in eastern Ventura County, California, and borders Los Angeles County. TheSSFL is divided into four administrative and operational portions based on ownership and operations. Area IV was devoted to nuclear operations. It is Area IV that is covered under EEOICPA as a DOE facility.

Coverage includes, but is not necessarily limited to the following operations:

  • The Energy Technology Engineering Center (ETEC), the Nuclear Development Field Laboratory (NDFL), and the Liquid Metal Engineering Center (LMEC). This also includes the Sodium Reactor Experiment Facility, the Kinetics Experiment Water Boiler Facility, the Water Boiler Neutron source (which is also known as the AE-6/L-85 Facility), the Organic Moderated Reactor, as well as facilities in Area IV associated with the Systems for Nuclear Auxiliary Power (SNAP) Program; the Sodium Graphite Reactor Critical Facility, the Shield Test Experiment/Shield Test Irradiation Reactor Facility, the Advanced Epithermal Thorium Test Facility, the Hot Lab Facility, the Fuel Storage Facility, the Radioactive Measurement Facility, the Radioactive Material Handling Facility, the Van De Graaff Accelerator Facility and the Radiation Instrument Calibration Laboratory.
  • Decontamination, decommissioning and demolition of radiological facilities in Area IV has been funded by the DOE beginning in the 1970’s, but predominantly since 1988.

Throughout the course of operations in Area IV, the potential for beryllium exposure existed.

Contractors: The Boeing Company (1996-present); Rockwell International (1973-1996); North American Rockwell (1968-1973); North American Aviation (1955-1967).

Listing:
Area IV of the Santa Susana Field Laboratory is listed as an Department of Energy (DOE) site under the EEOICPA.

Special Exposure Cohort (SEC) Classes:
The SEC classes for Area IV of the Santa Susana Field Laboratory  include:

  • All employees of the Department of Energy (DOE), its predecessor agencies, and DOE contractors and subcontractors who worked in any area of Area IV of the Santa Susana Field Laboratory for a number of work days aggregating at least 250 work days from January 1, 1955 through December 31, 1958, or in combination with work days within the parameters established for one or more other classes of employees in the SEC.
  • All employees of the Department of Energy, its predecessor agencies, and their contractors and subcontractors who worked in any area of Area IV of the Santa Susana Field Laboratory 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 SEC.
  • All employees of the Department of Energy, its predecessor agencies, and their contractors or subcontractors who worked in any area of Area IV of the Santa Susana Field Laboratory in Ventura County, California from January 1, 1965, through December 31, 1988, 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 SEC.

History:
Area IV of Santa Susana Field Laboratory is a section of a now closed research facility located in California about 30 miles northwest of Los Angeles. In 1947, the site was chosen for testing liquid-propelled rocket engines, the placement of nuclear reactors, and a U.S. government sponsored liquid metals research center. The area was divided into four production areas (I-IV) and two buffer areas. Production area IV was used mainly for nuclear reactor experimentation. More than ten nuclear reactors were built in Area IV and at least four of them suffered fires. In 1959, a partial nuclear meltdown occurred. A massive cleanup was started by DOE and NASA in 2010 and is scheduled to be completed in 2017. The major portion of the land will be turned into a park and permanently restricted to nonresidential and noncommercial use.

Compensation:
As of 01/11/2023, 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 Area IV of the Santa Susana Field Laboratory is  $85,136,983. Click here for a current accounting of compensation paid to former Area IV of the Santa Susana Field Laboratory Workers under the EEOICPA.

Area IV of the Santa Susana Field Laboratory 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.

Videos:
Further History of the Santa Susana Field Laboratory can be seen below:

Another perspective of the activities at Santa Susana can be seen in this video:

Some more personal histories of the activities at Area IV of the Santa Susana Field Laboratory, specifically concerning a meltdown that occurred at the site in 1959, can be seen below:

Part I –

Part II –

area_iv_aerial

DOCUMENTS:

NIOSH:
SEC Petition Evaluation Report Petition SEC-00234 – Report Rev #: 0
Report Submittal Date: October 11, 2016

SEC Petition Evaluation Report – Petition SEC-00156 – Report Rev #: 0
Report Submittal Date: January 12, 2010

SEC Petition Evaluation Report – Petition SEC-00093 – Report Rev #: 1
Report Submittal Date: April 28, 2009

SEC Petition Evaluation Report – Petition SEC-00093 – Report Rev #: 0
Report Submittal Date: February 6, 2008

SC&A
Status Report on the Review of the Santa Susanna Field Laboratory (SSFL) Site Profile, SEC Petition, and SEC Petition Evaluation Report Prepared for the SSFL work group meeting in Cincinnati, Ohio, April 20, 2010 Prepared by SC&A, Inc.
April 15, 2010

Draft White Paper – REVIEW OF DATABASE USED TO DEVELOP ORAUT-OTIB-0077: EXTERNAL COWORKER DOSIMETRY DATA FOR AREA IV OF THE SANTA SUSANA FIELD LABORATORY
March 2010

Draft ADVISORY BOARD ON RADIATION AND WORKER HEALTH National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Review of the Santa Susana Field Laboratory (SSFL) Area IV Special Exposure Cohort (SEC) Petition-00093 and the NIOSH SEC Petition Evaluation Report
October 2009

Draft ADVISORY BOARD ON RADIATION AND WORKER HEALTH National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Review of the NIOSH Site Profile for the Santa Susana Field Laboratory
August 2008

DOE:
Tiger Team Assessment of the Energy Technology Engineering Center (ETEC) at Santa Susana Field Laboratory