Stephens and Stephens RECA lawyers help eligible RECA claimants in Oregon and nationwide in filing compensation claims. The RECA provides compensation to uranium workers in Oregon and elsewhere in the country if they meet the eligibility requirements. Early uranium workers were exposed to radiation and other toxins, which increased their risk of developing lung and kidney illnesses and cancer. During this period (January 1, 1942, to December 31, 1990), the workers were unaware of the health effects of these exposures, and the government did not provide them with the necessary protection. You can contact our RECA attorney, Hugh Stephens, at (716) 208-3525 for assistance with filing a RECA claim in Oregon or anywhere in the country. We also cover the costs of required medical tests, including kidney function tests and X-rays for eligible claimants. We will also assist you in appealing if your claim was wrongfully denied.

Uranium mining in Oregon

Uranium deposits in Oregon were first discovered in the 1930s in the headwaters of the Deschutes River. Later in the 1940s, new uranium deposits were identified in the Steens Mountain area. Commercial production, however, began in the mid-1950s. During this period, the government was purchasing uranium for nuclear weapon development and awarding new substantial discoveries.

Most of the Oregon uranium came from the Lakeview region in Lake County, which was discovered in 1955. The uranium mineralization in this area is associated with a flow-banded rhyolite dike that has intruded clayey tuffs, tuff breccias, agglomerates, and basaltic lava flows of Pliocene age. The area had two open-pit mines: the White King and the Lucky Lass, located about 17 miles northwest of Lakeview and about a mile apart in the Fremont National Forest. The mines occupied about 140 acres, with the White King Mine taking 120 acres and the Lucky Lass Mine 20 acres. They produced low-grade uranium, which was processed in a nearby mine and sold to the government for the creation of atomic weapons. The grade of ore processed at the Lakeview mill from both mines averaged about 0.15% uranium oxide or yellow cake. The mill’s total production during its operational period was about 200 tons of uranium oxide.

Initially, the White King was an underground mine shaft developed up to 312 feet below the surface. This mining technique was abandoned in 1959 due to problems with water infiltrating into the mine. Early core drilling located high-quality uranium deposits at a depth of 700 feet. However, the deeper ore body was never extracted because underground mining proved difficult.

Open-pit mining techniques were used from 1956 to 1958 and from 1961 to 1964. Ore processing took place at the Lakeview Mining Company mill located on the northern edge of the town, which operated from 1958 to 1961. After the Lakeview mill shut down its operations, small amounts of ore produced from both mines between 1961 and 1965 were shipped to Salt Lake City for processing. During the entire operational period, the White King Mine produced about 138,146 tons of ore, and the Lucky Lass about 5,450 tons.

The White King and Lucky Lass mines officially stopped production in 1965. Lakeview Mining Company, which was owned by a group of venture capitalists from Colorado and Texas, managed the production. The company’s production stopped due to decreased demand for uranium and the death of its two major investors. Exploration of uranium deposits in Oregon peaked again in the mid-1970s, but the Lakeview mines and mill never reopened. The mines and the mill were abandoned with areas of elevated radioactivity and piles of tailings.

Ore mining and processing operations between the 1950s and 1960s left behind waste materials on the site, which contaminated soil, surface water, sediment, and groundwater with heavy metals and radioactive constituents. In 1976, areas of elevated radioactivity were discovered, and the tailings pile was covered with about two feet of dirt. Between 1968 and 1988, the mill tailings and contaminated soil were excavated and disposed of in a cell about seven miles outside of Lakeview. It was covered in a compacted soil layer to prevent radon from escaping. Water was percolated, and a rock cover was placed over it. Over time, the mine pits filled with water, which elevated levels of radioactive materials, posing a contamination threat to the nearby Augur Creek. In 1995, the Lakeview mines were added to the Environmental Protection Agency Superfund sites for cleanup.

Health Effects of Oregon Uranium Mining and Processing

The radioactive qualities of uranium were first established in 1866. Due to this attribute, uranium has been widely used as an energy source since the mid-20th century. It is included in commercial nuclear reactors to produce significantly high quantities of electricity compared to coal. Uranium isotopes are used in medical diagnostics. Uranium is also used in military applications, especially in tank shielding, missiles, and nuclear bombs. The increasing demand for uranium in military weapon production during the Cold War expanded mining activities in the country. Early uranium extraction and processing contaminated the environment and presented health hazards to workers and nearby communities.

Uranium exposure can occur through inhalation, ingestion, or skin contact. Most of the ingested uranium is excreted through feces and urine. Inhaled uranium can cause airway and lung irritation and respiratory illnesses. Uranium that is absorbed by the body is deposited in various body parts, with the highest levels in the bones, liver, and kidneys. Most uranium in the body is deposited in bones, and can remain in the bones for a long time. It takes between 70 and 200 days for half of the uranium to be removed from the bones. However, uranium in other parts of the body can be eliminated in 1 to 2 weeks. As a result, uranium damages bones and increases the risk of bone cancer.

During its natural decay process, uranium releases radon gas and other radioactive decay products, which are linked to lung cancer among uranium workers. Earlier uranium workers were at increased risk of these exposures because they inhaled radon gas and uranium dust in enclosed spaces without wearing the appropriate protective gear.

Uranium workers are also at risk of exposure to other radionuclides, such as the uranium itself, which undergo radioactive decay by alpha, beta, or gamma emission. Radium-226, released from uranium decay, and its other decay products, such as bismuth-214 and lead-214, present alpha and gamma radiation hazards. Apart from radionuclides, uranium workers are also at risk of inhaling silica dust and diesel exhaust during mining and processing activities. Studies show that both silica and diesel exhaust exposure increase the risk of lung cancer, which is also the main risk associated with radon decay product exposure.

How to file a RECA Uranium Worker Claim in Oregon

For you to file a RECA Uranium worker claim, you need to understand the eligibility criteria. Eligible uranium workers are those who worked in uranium mines and mills, as miners, millers, ore transporters, core drillers, and remediation workers for at least one year from January 1, 1942, to December 31, 1990, in mines located in Oregon and the other ten uranium mining states in the country. If the worker died of a covered illness, the spouse, children, or grandchildren can also claim compensation.

RECA covered illnesses for uranium workers include lung cancer, nonmalignant respiratory diseases such as lung and pulmonary fibrosis, corpulmonale related to fibrosis of the lung, silicosis, and pneumoconiosis. Kidney illnesses are also considered for compensation, including renal cancer and any other chronic renal disease, such as nephritis and kidney tubular tissue injury.

To be considered for compensation, you must file a claim with the Department of Justice by submitting a completed claim form along with a diagnosis of the claimed illness and proof of employment. Covered employment is often established by obtaining the worker’s Social Security Administration (SSA) earnings records. A RECA lawyer can help you gather all the evidence required to file a successful claim. If your claim is successful, you will be awarded compensation of $150,000, as well as medical and impairment benefits under the RECA and EEOICPA.

Survivors must provide proof that the uranium worker’s death occurred from or was contributed to by a covered illness. They must also submit evidence of survivorship, which depends on their relationship with the worker. Examples include marriage, birth, and death certificates. Eligible survivors, on the other hand, receive a one-off payment of $150,000.

Evidence of respiratory illnesses includes diagnostic reports such as arterial blood gas study reports, written diagnoses by qualified physicians, x-rays, CT scans, pathology reports of tissue biopsies, and pulmonary function tests. If you are claiming kidney illnesses, you can submit blood tests, commonly known as Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR), urine tests, ultrasound scans, CT scans, or MRI scans.

Final Thoughts

You can file a successful RECA claim without the help of a lawyer. However, it may be challenging to obtain some of the required evidence, which may also delay the compensation process. Our RECA lawyer, Hugh Stephens, will represent you in all matters related to your claim and act in your best interest to ensure you get the compensation you deserve. Our consultation services are free for RECA claimants, and you only pay attorney fees after your claim has been accepted and compensated.