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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: Rare Earths/W.R. Grace

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. Rare Earths/W.R. Grace 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 AWE/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.

Rare Earths/W.R. Grace

 
State: New Jersey
Location: Wayne
Time Period: AWE 1950-1960; Residual Radiation 1961-1984; 1988-2001;
DOE 1985 -1987 (remediation)
Facility Type: Atomic Weapons Employer, Department of Energy

Facility Description: Rare Earths extracted thorium from monazite sands from 1950-1960 under various contracts with the AEC. The AEC needed the thorium for its weapons program. Although the processing of monazite sands continued at Rare Earths through 1971, it was no longer performed under contract for the AEC, but rather was for commercial purposes.

Remediation activities were conducted from 1985-1987 by Thermo Analytical/Eberline and Bechtel National Inc. (BNI) under the BNI umbrella contract as part of the Formerly Utilized Site Remediation Action Program (FUSRAP).

During the period of residual contamination, as designated by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and as noted in the dates above, employees of subsequent owners and operators of this facility are also covered under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act.

Listing:
Rare Earths/W.R. Grace is listed as an Atomic Weapons Employer (AWE) site and as a Department of Energy (DOE) site under the EEOICPA.

Compensation:
As of 05/17/2015, 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 Rare Earths/W.R. Grace is $475.

*Site Description and History:
The Wayne, New Jersey, Site (previously called the Wayne Interim Storage Site) is located at 868 Black Oak Ridge Road in Wayne Township in northern New Jersey. The site sits at the intersection of Black Oak Ridge Road and Pompton Plains Crossroad, approximately 20 miles north-northwest of Newark. The site is fenced and roughly rectangular in shape, covering approximately 6.5 acres.

In 1948, Rare Earths, Inc., began processing monazite sand to extract thorium and rare earth metals and, in doing so, buried contaminated waste materials on the site. W.R. Grace & Company acquired the facility in 1957, and processing continued until 1971, when the plant closed. Applied Health Physics, Inc., decontaminated the buildings in 1974, and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission released the property for unrestricted use in 1975.

An aerial radiological survey in 1981 identified elevated radiation levels at the site and west along Sheffield Brook. Subsequent walkover surveys conducted in 1982 confirmed that concentrations of surface radionuclide contamination were greater than acceptable U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) remedial action guidelines at the time.

The Wayne site was designated for remedial action under the DOE Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program (FUSRAP) in 1984. That same year, DOE purchased the site to use for storage of contaminated vicinity property material, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL).

Although thorium was the principal contaminant detected, radium, uranium, and nonradioactive metals were also identified at the site. Two types of contaminated media were present: source materials (soil, processing waste, and bulk waste) and building materials from an onsite structure. DOE conducted cleanup work on the site from 1985 to 1993. Additional cleanup at several offsite locations, called vicinity properties, was primarily conducted between 1985 and 1987 and completed in 1993.

Excavated vicinity property materials were placed in an interim storage pile on top of the site’s process waste pits because a permanent waste disposal facility was not available at the time.

In 1997, the agency assigned to complete Wayne site cleanup, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), removed an estimated 58,000 cubic yards of contaminated material from the interim storage site and disposed of it in a licensed, offsite facility. The materials included those from the waste pit and affected soil and debris from beneath the footprint of the former pile. USACE began a long-term groundwater monitoring program in 2002 that continued through 2006.

Preparations for site closeout included a document review, which identified two vicinity properties in need of additional cleanup. Both had been remediated in the 1980s to criteria that were less stringent than those specified in the Record of Decision. The additional work was completed under an Explanation of Significant Difference to the Record of Decision.

The results from 5 years of groundwater monitoring indicated that site activities did not degrade groundwater quality, which meant the site met the criteria for unrestricted use. EPA Region II completed an inspection in September 2003 and verified that remedial action was completed at the Wayne site and its vicinity properties.

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