The Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) provides compensation to uranium workers who have been affected by certain illnesses and meet the employment requirements. Stephens and Stephens RECA lawyers represent uranium workers and eligible survivors who intend to file RECA claims in Utah and throughout the United States. Eligible uranium workers include individuals who worked in uranium mines and mills, as miners, millers, ore transporters, core drillers, and remediation workers in uranium mining states, including Utah, for at least one year from January 1, 1942, to December 31, 1990. Illnesses covered under the Act for uranium workers include lung cancer, a nonmalignant respiratory disease (lung and pulmonary fibrosis, corpulmonale related to fibrosis of the lung, silicosis, and pneumoconiosis), renal cancer, and any other chronic renal disease, including nephritis and kidney tubular tissue injury. Eligible uranium workers receive a lump sum payment of $150,000, as well as medical and impairment benefits under the RECA and EEOICPA. Eligible survivors are awarded a lump sum of $150,000. Contact our RECA attorney, R. Hugh Stephens, on his cell at (716) 208-3525, for assistance filing a RECA uranium worker claim in Utah and nationwide.
To receive these benefits, you must file a claim and provide proof of eligibility based on employment and the covered illnesses. The medical or diagnostic evidence required depends on the type of illness you are claiming. Employment is often established by obtaining the worker’s Social Security Administration (SSA) earnings records. The Act allows for the combination of work histories of two or more accepted uranium worker positions to meet the required one-year employment period.
Uranium mining in Utah
Utah is one of the major uranium producers in the country. Uranium mining in the state dates back to the 1900s. During this period, uranium was mined as a byproduct of vanadium. Most of the uranium deposits identified in the state are sandstone-hosted on the Colorado Plateau. Uranium-vanadium production in southeast Utah occurred at the northern end of the Uravan mineral belt, where it crosses into Grand County, Utah. The uranium deposits occur in the Salt Wash member of the Morrison Formation of Jurassic age. Uranium exploration in the state boomed in the 1940s and 1950s (during the Cold War) and declined in the early 1990s. During the peak season, production occurred in hundreds of mines in southeast Utah. The higher uranium prices in 2001 drew back the interest of mining companies in the industry. The White Mesa Mill in Blanding, the only active conventional uranium mill in the country, currently processes ore from mines across the Southwest. Some of the active mines include the Velvet-Wood Mine in San Juan County and the La Sal and Pandora Mines owned by Energy Fuels. Exploration is still ongoing in the state, with major companies investing. For instance, Atomic Minerals Corporation and Kraken Energy are exploring for uranium in the Bears Ears Area.
In December 2024, Urano Energy Corp. acquired 15 uranium properties in Utah and Colorado for exploration and production. They include vanadium Queen/UH3/Blue Cap/Black Hat, Hop Creek, North Lisbon Valley, East LaSal & West LaSal, and Central Lisbon Valley in San Juan, as well as Green River in Emery County. These former uranium production sites are located in La Sal Creek, Lisbon Valley, La Sal, and San Rafael Swell mineral belts.
Uranium mining regions in Utah
Uravan Mineral Belt- This is a 70-mile mineral zone located in parts of eastern Utah and western Colorado. The uranium deposits are of the high grade, primarily in the Salt Wash Member of the Morrison Formation. The Uravan uranium was discovered in 1910 and has produced a significant percentage of the world’s uranium. Major mines in the region included the Rim Mine owned by IsoEnergy, the Vanadium King owned by Thor Energy PLC, and Urano Energy Properties. Urano Energy holds several uranium-vanadium mines on the boundary of Utah and Colorado, including Eula Belle, Mum-Whitney Extension, Norther, Spud Patch, and Dulaney. The Vanadium King Project is approximately 40 km north of Moab, southeast Utah.
Lisbon Valley- Uranium was discovered in Lisbon Valley, San Juan County, in 1913. Most of the exploration began during the 1948 boom. Uranium is deposited in sandstone of the Permian Cutler Formation and the Triassic Chinle Formation. Over 6.6 million pounds of uranium oxide were produced in 1959. By the closure of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) program in 1970, the district had produced about 53.6 million pounds of uranium oxide. I.e., about 12 percent of the total uranium produced in the United States between 1948 and 1970. Significant mines in the valley included Mi Vida, Lisbon, Velvet, and McCormick. Most of the processing took place at the Moab Uranium mill, Grand County, which operated between 1956 and 1984, and the Rio Algom Uranium Mill, which operated from 1972 to 1988 in San Juan County. Many mines in the valley closed in the 1980s due to declining prices. However, exploration continued in some sites.
White Canyon and Monument Valley districts- Uranium in the White Canyon-Monument Valley district was discovered in 1920, but extraction began in 1946. The mining district lies within southeastern Utah and northeastern Arizona. The region is a significant uranium mining area, typically associated with uraninite. The deposits are primarily located in the Shinarump member of the Chinle formation. The uranium deposits are formed in conglomerates and sandstones within ancient erosion channels. As of 1965, the White Canyon district had produced 10 million pounds of uranium oxide. Uranium production in the district declined in the 1980s. Exploration has been on the rise over the past few years. Daneros underground mine reopened in 2009 with different companies taking ownership, including Denison and Energy Fuels. Operations halted in October 2012, when the mine was placed on maintenance.
Other minor uranium mining districts in Utah include:
- The Marysvale district in Piute and Sevier counties
- The Silver Reef district in Silver Reef, Washington County
- Yellow Chief mine in the Thomas Range of Juab County
- Bingham Canyon copper mine in Salt Lake County
Health Effects of Uranium Mining
The radioactive properties of uranium were discovered in 1866. Historically, uranium was used in ceramic glazes and photography. The use of uranium in power generation through nuclear reaction began in the mid-20th century. Currently, uranium is widely used in commercial nuclear electricity production. Uranium isotopes also play a crucial part in various applications, such as the generation of isotopes used in medical diagnostics. Uranium is also used in military applications, especially in tank shielding, missiles, and nuclear bombs. The demand for uranium for military and nuclear power production has significantly contributed to the industry’s growth. The extraction activities present health hazards to workers involved, adjacent communities, and the environment. In recent years, studies have revealed the potentially harmful health effects of uranium exposure on essential human organs.
Inhaled uranium dust may damage the lungs, causing chronic respiratory diseases or lung cancer. Studies have shown a high rate of lung cancer among uranium workers. This high lung cancer rate is associated with exposure to ionizing radiation, particularly alpha radiation. Uranium naturally undergoes a radioactive decay series that involves the emission of a particle and energy as one atom changes into another. In most instances, the atom changes its identity to become a new element. The process causes the production of alpha, beta, gamma, and positron emissions. Alpha, beta, and gamma radiation are harmful. However, alpha particles have a critical destructive capability compared to beta or gamma particles when interacting with cells, but they have a limited range of tissue penetration. Radon gas, which is emitted during uranium decay, has been associated with lung cancer. This gas is a major health concern among underground uranium miners because it accumulates in enclosed spaces. Miners unknowingly inhale odorless, colorless, tasteless gas.
Radiation exposure to uranium miners is not attributed to radon gas but the short-lived radon decay products, specifically Polonium-218 (²¹⁸Po) and Polonium-214 (²¹⁴Po). Radon decay products or radon progeny are the short-lived radioactive elements that form when radon gas (radon-222) decays. They include Polonium-218 (²¹⁸Po), Lead-214 (²¹⁴Pb), Bismuth-214 (²¹⁴Bi), and Polonium-214 (²¹⁴Po). These decay products are solid, electrically charged particles that can attach to dust and aerosols in the air. When inhaled, they can deposit in the lungs, where their alpha, beta, and gamma radiation damages lung cells. Cancer begins to develop when radiation exposure damages DNA in a single cell, rather than multiple cells.
Uranium workers were significantly affected by these exposures because they were exposed for long periods with limited protection. Apart from radiation, uranium workers were also exposed to other toxins attributed to respiratory illnesses, such as silica dust and diesel exhaust. Uranium is a heavy metal that, if inhaled or ingested, can accumulate in the body, leading to kidney toxicity, bone and liver damage. Uranium may interfere with metabolic processes and result in liver damage.
File a RECA Uranium Worker Claim
Contact us for help filing a RECA claim if you meet the eligibility criteria. While you can file a claim on your own, the process might be draining. Our experienced RECA lawyer can help you obtain the proof necessary to file a successful claim. Our attorney fees are as defined by the Act. I.e., 2% of the total payment you receive if your claim is accepted after the initial filing and 10% if your claim is accepted after a denial. We do not charge our RECA claimants consultation fees.