Energy Department radiation rhetoric, actions at odds

Journal Article · Mon Mar 07 04:00:00 EST 1994 · Energy Daily; (United States)

OSTI ID:6995572

Lobsenz, G

Only months after Energy Secretary Hazel O'Leary pledged that DOE would [open quotes]come clean[close quotes] about past radiation abuses, the department is refusing to release individual exposure records of former workers at its heavily contaminated Fernald uranium plant. At the same time O'Leary was flying around the country to tout a new era of openness at the department, top DOE officials in January told attorneys representing the Fernald workers that individual exposure records would not be forthcoming. While agreeing to provide general health data, DOE specifically refused to disclose the names of the workers involved or their specific exposure histories at the plant, citing privacy concerns. The workers' attorneys contend the privacy concerns are spurious since every former Fernald worker contacted about possible overexposure has waived the privacy privilege and authorized DOE to release his or her records. The attorneys also note that DOE under the Bush administration released worker exposure information related to its Hanford, Wash., plant after the government and outside attorneys agreed to a protective order that assured privacy rights were not violated. The Fernald workers' attorneys maintain DOE is refusing to disclose the names of the workers to ensure that no additional workers are contacted by the attorneys and told about their possible overexposure - and the pending litigation seeking compensation for the alleged injuries. And as DOE remains silent, the attorneys say, the former Fernald workers are going without medical treatment for any possible radiation-related ailments they may have suffered as a result of working at the plant.

• OSTI ID: 6995572
• Journal Information: Energy Daily; (United States), Journal Name: Energy Daily; (United States) Vol. 22:43; ISSN 0364-5274; ISSN ENDADJ
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

054000* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Health & Safety
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290300 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Environment
Health
& Safety
IONIZING RADIATIONS
LABOR RELATIONS
LAWSUITS
LEGAL ASPECTS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
RADIATIONS
US DOE
US ORGANIZATIONS