Uranium workers in Idaho and the other 11 uranium-mining states can now file a claim for compensation under the RECA if they meet the eligibility requirements. If the worker is deceased, eligible survivors can claim compensation. For your claim to be approved, you must prove eligibility in relation to employment, covered illness, and survivorship. Eligible individuals are those who worked in uranium mines or mills as miners, millers, ore transporters, core drillers, or remediation workers for at least a year between January 1, 1942, and December 31, 1990. Accepted illnesses include lung cancer, nonmalignant respiratory diseases, renal cancer, and any other chronic renal disease, including nephritis and kidney tubular tissue injury.
Stephens and Stephens RECA lawyers have been representing RECA claimants since 2010. Contact our experienced RECA lawyer, R. Hugh Stephens, on his cell phone at (716) 208-3525, for help filing a RECA uranium worker claim in Idaho or anywhere else in the country. We will also assist you in appealing if your claim was wrongfully denied. If your RECA uranium worker’s claim is accepted, you receive a lump sum of $150 000, as well as medical and impairment benefits.
History of Uranium Mining in Idaho
Radioactive minerals in Idaho have been mined since the 1870s. Uranium was discovered in Idaho in 1920. However, the first Idaho uranium ore was shipped in April 1955 from a mine south of Salmon City. There is currently no active uranium mining in Idaho. Most of the uranium mining in the state primarily took place from the 1950s to the early 1960s. The state produced about 365,000 pounds (165 metric tons) of uranium oxide from its placer deposits between 1955 and 1960, and about 170,000 pounds (78 metric tons) from veins and strataform deposits in the Stanley district, Cluster County, between 1957 and 1962.
Past extraction occurred from vein deposits in the Idaho Batholith, Gibbonsville mines in Lemhi County, Hailey in Blaine County, as well as placer deposits in the Stanley and Lowman districts. Two former mines in the Gibbonsville district of northern Lemhi County are associated with quartz veins that cut quartzite and mica schist. Hailey gold belt produced a significant amount of uranium, mainly from the fractured monzonite of the gold belt. Production also occurred at the Bear Valley in Central Idaho. Some uraninite of noncommercial value was also found in the lower workings of the Sunshine, Coeur d’Alene district; Red River, about 10 miles south of Elk City, and the veinlets bordered by red, hematite-stained, altered quartzite.
Current State of Idaho Uranium Exploration
US Critical Metals Corp is exploring uranium and vanadium at the Long Canyon project in the Lemhi Pass region. The company owns 70% of the Long Canyon uranium and vanadium exploration Project, which includes 25 contiguous and 2 non-contiguous unpatented mining claims, covering approximately 535 acres of land managed by the BLM and the U.S. Forest Service. Exploration previously occurred in the 1950s with a small-scale production. The minimal modern exploration offers high potential for discovery. The project is expected to produce high-grade uranium and vanadium for nuclear energy and battery technologies. Rock and soil sampling indicated uranium of 3,985 ppm, vanadium of 0.7% and lead of 9.4%. Valuable metals were also identified, including copper, molybdenum, nickel, cobalt, silver, lead, and zinc.
The health effects of radiation were not known in the early years. As a result, thousands of uranium workers were exposed to radiation and other toxins related to uranium mining, processing, and transportation. Many of these workers died of lung cancer in the 1950s and 1960s, which was initially attributed to smoking.
Apart from the exposure associated with mines, former uranium mills left behind tons of radioactive waste which continues to affect communities around through soil, surface, and groundwater contamination. Out of 50 uranium milling sites in the country, half of them have been abandoned and are undergoing cleanup and reclamation..
Health effects associated with uranium mining and processing
The extraction and processing of uranium is associated with radiological and chemical exposures, which can occur through inhalation, ingestion, and skin contact. Health effects associated with long-term exposure include lung, kidney, and bone cancer, as well as other nonmalignant illnesses.
Uranium decays naturally, producing radioactive elements, including radon gas. As uranium breaks down, it undergoes a decay chain involving a series of 14 transformations. Radon is one of the byproducts of this radioactive decay process, which takes several billion years to complete. As the elements transform, they also emit alpha, beta, and gamma radiation. The decay chain ends with the formation of lead 206, which is stable and nonradioactive. Radon decays in a series of four very short-lived radioactive products, which are electrically charged solid particles called radon progeny. They include polonium-218, lead-214, bismuth-214, and polonium-214. Inhalation of radon decay products and radioactive dust is a leading cause of lung cancer among uranium workers. Long-term exposure to the heavy metals associated with uranium mining increases the risk of kidney damage, neurobehavioral impairments, and other respiratory issues. It also increases the risks of birth defects, hereditary illnesses, and psychological distress. Studies have associated external radiation exposure with an increased risk of bone cancer.
A 1950 US Public Health Service study established a statistical correlation between cancer and uranium mining, which was published in 1962. Consequently, in 1969, the federal government set standards for the amount of radon in mines. It was not until 1990 that Congress passed the Radiation Exposure and Compensation Act (RECA) to provide compensation to uranium workers and other radiation exposure victims across the country. Since its constitution, the Act has undergone a series of amendments. The latest RECA amendments of 2025 expanded the period of covered employment, as well as the covered illnesses.
The Process of Filing a RECA Uranium Worker Claim
- Contact our RECA attorney for a free case evaluation: If you think you meet the RECA Uranium worker eligibility requirements, it is best to consult an experienced RECA lawyer. He will advise you on all matters related to your claim, assess your eligibility for compensation, and guide you through the process. Our RECA lawyer will not charge you for consultation services.
- Obtain required evidence: For your claim to be accepted, you must prove eligibility by submitting medical and employment evidence. A RECA lawyer can advise you and help you obtain the proof you require to file a successful claim. Medical evidence must include a diagnosis of the claimed covered illness from a qualified physician. Employment evidence can be obtained by submitting SSA earnings authorization or records.
- File a claim for compensation with the Department of Justice (DOJ): To be considered for compensation, you must complete a claim form and file a formal claim with the DOJ. You must also submit employment and medical evidence. During the processing of your claim, your attorney will maintain constant communication with the DOJ to ensure that your claim is adequately processed and all the required evidence is submitted.
- Claim processing: The DOJ determines whether you meet RECA requirements. All reasonable doubt on eligibility is resolved in favor of the claimant. Where necessary, the DOJ may consult experts in the determination. When determining the claimed medical conditions based on the medical evidence, the DOJ consults with the Surgeon General. The Director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) helps determine if an individual was exposed to the working level months of radiation. The DOJ may request additional information from the claimant or any other relevant entity to process a claim.
- Decision: The DOJ determines claims within 12 months if all of the required evidence is available. If your claim is accepted, the DOJ awards compensation in accordance with the Act. Payments are made within six weeks of approval. If your claim is denied, the DOJ will allow you a reasonable period within which you can seek an administrative review. After filing a request for review, a final determination is issued within 90 days.
Final thoughts
Filing a successful uranium worker claim can be difficult without the help of an experienced attorney. The Act defines the applicable attorney fees, and you can only pay once you receive your compensation. The charges are 2% of the amount you receive if your claim is accepted after the initial filing and 10% if your claim is accepted after a denial. Contact us for a free case evaluation if you qualify for compensation or if you think your claim was wrongfully denied. We will answer any questions you might have regarding your eligibility. Remember that the deadline for filing a RECA uranium worker claim is December 31, 2027.