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VOLUME 4, EDITION 2 Claim Denied, But Former Atomic Worker Does Not Give Up “I saw the ash,” recalled Ross, a and said, ‘move everything o the former Electronic Technician at shelves and onto the oor.’ ey Nevada Test Site. “en came the didn’t want anything to fall o and ground waves. It felt like I was break because of the blast.” standing in the middle of the ocean with waves all around.” Ross experienced many once-in-a-lifetime events while Ross recalled one of his experiences working at both Nevada Test Site and aer a nuclear weapon was detonated Idaho National Lab. Unfortunately, underground at the Nevada Test Site, while working at these sites, Ross also where he worked from 1965-1968. experienced exposure to toxic Ross holds his DOL benets card he received chemicals and radiation. Several years from self-ling. Nuclear Care Partners is “ey came in to the equipment trailer ago, Ross was diagnosed with thyroid now providing Ross with guidance on how to add his other conditions to his card. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2... NCP ATOMIC SITE FOCUS AMES LABORATORY A Historical Highlight of One of the Many Nuclear Weapons Facilities Across the Nation e discovery of nuclear ssion in program to accompany the Manhattan 1939 led to advanced research of Project’s existing physics program. e uranium and other rare radioactive Ames Project, as it came to be known, was elements and isotopes. In 1942, Frank responsible for producing high purity Spedding of Iowa State College, an uranium from uranium ores. e Ames expert in the chemistry of rare earth Project group, led by chemist Harley A. elements, agreed to establish and direct Wilhelm, developed a new method for a chemical research and development reducing and casting uranium metal. is CONTINUED ON PAGE 4... PAGE 1 card, but his claim was denied, and he did not understand why. at is when he called Angela Hays Carey, : Community Outreach Manager at Nuclear Care Partners. “I had heard Nuclear Care Partners is really helpful when you’re trying to self-le through the resource center,” said Ross. “Nuclear Care Partners helps you understand what the DOL letters mean, why your claim didn’t go through, and what you need to do next.” Angela helped Ross write up a short work history of how he came into contact with the dierent toxic materials that are scientically linked Ross and Angela of NCP sort through paperwork to see what documents Ross needs to send back to the DOL to have his other conditions added to his benets card. to causing neuropathy and sarcoidosis. He requested copies of his medical records that showed the test results cancer, which was directly linked to parts of the body). leading to his diagnoses and was able “I saw the ash,” recalled Ross, a and said, ‘move everything o the the work he did at the atomic sites. Ross tried self-ling at the to successfully submit the documents former Electronic Technician at shelves and onto the oor.’ ey Ross was able to successfully le for Department of Labor (DOL) to the DOL Resource Center to be Nevada Test Site. “en came the didn’t want anything to fall o and his Energy Employee Occupational reconsidered. ground waves. It felt like I was break because of the blast.” Illness Compensation Program Act standing in the middle of the ocean (EEOICPA) benets, which include “Nuclear Care Partners “Nuclear Care Partners is great to work with waves all around.” Ross experienced many no-cost hospital visits and treatment. is great to work with. with,” Ross said. “ey’re very once-in-a-lifetime events while knowledgeable about the DOL ling Ross recalled one of his experiences working at both Nevada Test Site and ough Ross is now happily cancer ey are very process and the dierent illnesses that aer a nuclear weapon was detonated Idaho National Lab. Unfortunately, free, he has been diagnosed with knowledgeable about the can be caused by exposure at the site. I underground at the Nevada Test Site, while working at these sites, Ross also several other illnesses he believes DOL ling process. really appreciate them.” where he worked from 1965-1968. experienced exposure to toxic could be linked to his work at the I really appreciate them.” chemicals and radiation. Several years atomic sites, including neuropathy If you are trying to le for your “ey came in to the equipment trailer ago, Ross was diagnosed with thyroid (weakness, numbness, and pain in the EEOICPA benets for your rst time, hands or feet from nerve damage) and or if you have other illnesses that could sarcoidosis (small collections of cells Resource Center to get neuropathy be linked to your work history, contact that cause inammation in dierent and sarcoidosis added to his white Nuclear Care Partners at 888-244-7039 STAY IN THE KNOW Atomic Health News is now available through email. Join our email list today! Yes! Sign me up to receive Atomic Health News through my email. Your Name: Email Address: Sign up a friend to receive Atomic Health News! Name of recipient: Address of recipient: Mail this completed form to: Nuclear Care Partners 631 24 1/2 Rd. Grand Junction, CO 81505 Don’t have a stamp? - Call 888.244.7039 to sign up over the phone. PAGE 2 Reaching Out A large part of NCP’s mission is to engage, educate, and provide resources to former atomic workers and give back to the communities we serve. Here are some of the ways we have been doing that over the last few months! WA Dennis, a former Hanford worker, and his NCP nurse Rhonda, attended Senior Day at the CO Gesa Carousel of Dreams sponsored by NCP. More than 60 former Rocky Flats workers were reunited at NCP's Rock On Rocky Flats Reunion in Denver, Colorado. OH Angela, Community Outreach Manager in Idaho, gave ID NCP's Nuclear Workers Extravaganza brought in over a presentation to the Eastern Idaho Community 75 former Portsmouth workers from across the Action Partnership about the EEOICPA benefits state to access EEOICPA resources and in-home care. former Idaho National Lab workers may qualify for. UNDERSTANDING YOUR If at any time we HEALTH CARE BENEFITS can be a resource As a former atomic worker, we hope hesitate to reach out to us so we can go for you please you have been made aware of the over them with you. EEOICPA program through the We are very passionate about ensuring don’t hesitate to Department of Labor and are receiving former atomic workers get the reach out to us at information, resources, and help they with it. If you’re not sure that you fully need, and are enjoying a higher quality 888.244.7039 of life as a result! PAGE 3 2018 COMMEMORATIVE PIN 631 24 1/2 Road, Suite C Grand Junction, CO 81505 is commemorative pin is the rst of a series to be developed over the coming years honoring the nuclear weapons development sites that played a signicant role in our nation’s nuclear defense. Nevada Test Site, established in 1951, was one of the rst nuclear sites developed at the beginning of the Manhattan Project. is pin was created to thank you for your service to our country and to recognize the sacrices you made to keeping our nation safe. Receive Your Free Commemorative Pin CALL 888.244.7039 NCP ATOMIC SITE FOCUS AMES LABORATORY A Historical Highlight of One of the Many Nuclear Weapons Facilities Across the Nation CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1... than educational institutions. Ames studied nuclear fuels and development made it possible to cast e Atomic Energy Commission structural materials for nuclear large ingots of the rare metal at a formally established Ames Laboratory in reactors. e innovative processes signicantly lower cost. 1947 as a result of the Ames Project’s developed at Ames resulted in the success. During the 1950s, scientists at production of the purest rare-earth e Ames Project provided around two metals in the world while signicantly tons, of the uranium used in the reducing the price of these metals. rst-self-sustaining nuclear reaction at Ames Laboratory employed roughly the University of Chicago in December 12,000 workers during its years in 1942. e Ames Project produced more nuclear research. than 1,000 tons of uranium for the e discovery of nuclear ssion in program to accompany the Manhattan Manhattan Project between 1942 and Today, Ames Laboratory is a United 1939 led to advanced research of Project’s existing physics program. e 1945. e uranium production process States Department of Energy national uranium and other rare radioactive Ames Project, as it came to be known, was developed at Ames is still used today. laboratory aliated with Iowa State elements and isotopes. In 1942, Frank responsible for producing high purity University. e Laboratory conducts Spedding of Iowa State College, an uranium from uranium ores. e Ames On October 12, 1945, the Ames Project important research into various areas expert in the chemistry of rare earth Project group, led by chemist Harley A. of national concern, including energy was awarded the Army/Navy E Flag for Nuclear Research Reactor during construction at elements, agreed to establish and direct Wilhelm, developed a new method for Excellence in Production of metallic the Ames Laboratory Research Reactor Facility. resources, high-speed computing, a chemical research and development reducing and casting uranium metal. is uranium as a vital war material, an Photo by Ames Lab U.S.A.E.C./Courtesy environmental cleanup, and the honor normally given to industry rather National Archives, photo no.