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Metallurgical Laboratory

(Site Profile/Docket Number 151)

Location: Chicago, Illinois

Also known as: Eckhardt Hall (+ West Stands, New Chem. Lab and Annex, Ryerson Physical Lab, Kent Chem. Lab), Met Lab

Special Exposure Cohort Petition Information

The Special Exposure Cohort (SEC) is a unique category of employees established by the Act (42 CFR Part 83). Claims compensated under the SEC do not have to go through the dose reconstruction process. To qualify for compensation under the SEC, a covered employee must meet specific requirements (e.g., must have at least one of 22 “specified cancers,” and have worked for a specified time period at one of the SEC sites). Classes of employees and work sites can be considered for addition to the SEC through a NIOSH petition process. More information about the Special Exposure Cohort can be found on our Frequently Asked Questions page.

Open/Active SEC Petitions

To date, there are no open/active SEC petitions from Metallurgical Laboratory.

Class(es) Added to the SEC

  • All AWE employees who worked at the Metallurgical Laboratory in Chicago, Illinois, from August 13, 1942 through June 30, 1946, for a number of work days aggregating at least 250 work days, occurring either solely under this employment or in combination with work days within the parameters established for one or more other classes of employees in the SEC.

    This class was established by Petition 135

Petitions Qualified for Evaluation

Below is a list of the petitions that qualified for evaluation. Select a petition on the list to view the table for that particular petition.

Petition 135 (Aug 13, 1942 to Jun 30, 1946)

Steps in Petition Process: Petition Details:

Date Received

November 24, 2008

Date Qualified for Evaluation

November 26, 2008

Summary of Information in Petition

Location: Chicago, Illinois

Job Titles and/or Job Duties: All Atomic Weapons Employer employees

Period of Employment: August 13, 1942 through June 30, 1946

Note: The information above is what qualified for evaluation. During our evaluation of whether dose reconstructions can adequately be completed for the above job titles and period of employment, information may cause NIOSH to change some the dates or job titles/duties. Therefore, as this petition proceeds through the SEC petition process and if an SEC class is proposed, the proposed class may not exactly match the above information.

Copy of the Petition Received

November 24, 2008 [95 KB (3 pages)]

Federal Register Notice Announcing that a Metallurgical Laboratory SEC Petition has met the Minimum Qualifications for Review and Evaluation

December 10, 2008 [20 KB (1 page)]

SEC Petition Evaluation Report

December 9, 2008 [240 KB (38 pages)]

Petition Discussed by the Advisory Board

The petition was discussed by the Advisory Board on December 16, 2008, during its regular meeting.

Note: the agenda for this meeting is available on the Advisory Board and Public Meetings page.

Advisory Board Recommendation on SEC Petition

December 18, 2008 [272 KB (2 pages)]

HHS Letters to Congress Regarding the SEC Petition

January 16, 2009 [400 KB (9 pages)]

HHS Designation of Additional Members to the SEC

 Designation

Federal Register Notice: Designation of a Class of Employees for Addition to the Special Exposure Cohort

 Designation

Effective Date for the SEC Class

February 15, 2009

Federal Register Notice: Final Effect of Designation of a Class of Employees for Addition to the Special Exposure Cohort

February 27, 2009 [41 KB (1 page)]

Letter to DOL Regarding the Addition of a New Class of Employees to the SEC

February 24, 2009 [17 KB (1 page)]

Advisory Board and NIOSH Comments and Discussion Papers on Metallurgical Laboratory

The Metallurgical Laboratory discussion papers listed below are working documents prepared by NIOSH or its contractor for use in discussions with the Advisory Board on Radiation and Worker Health or its Working Groups or Subcommittees. Draft, preliminary, interim, and white paper documents are not final NIOSH or Advisory Board (or their technical support and review contractors) positions unless specifically marked as such. These documents represent preliminary positions taken on technical issues prepared by NIOSH or its contractor.

The discussion papers have been reviewed to identify and redact any information that is protected by the Privacy Act 5 USC §552a and have been cleared for distribution.

Program Evaluation Plans (PEPs) and Program Evaluation Reports (PERs)

NIOSH is committed to applying the best available science in dose reconstructions. In keeping with this commitment, completed cases with probabilities of causation less than 50% are reviewed as relevant new information becomes available. The results of these reviews are described in a Program Evaluation Report (PER). The PER details the effect, if any, of the new information on the completed dose reconstruction. If it appears that the new information may result in an increase in dose for a completed dose reconstruction with a probability of causation of less than 50%, NIOSH is committed to working with the Department of Labor to reopen and rework the dose reconstruction, as appropriate. A Program Evaluation Plan (PEP) describes plans for evaluating specific program details or issues.

  • DCAS-PER-044 Rev-0: Program Evaluation Report: Metallurgical Laboratory [42 KB (1 page)]

    May 16, 2013

    About this Document: New document to determine the effect on previously completed claims due to changes to Metallurgical Laboratory dose reconstructions.

    Summary: With only one claim potentially affected by previous changes, the dose was recalculated for that claim using all currently approved methods. As a result of this recalculation, the probability of causation remained below 50%.

Public Comments on Metallurgical Laboratory Documents

How to Submit Comments

Comments on Metallurgical Laboratory Documents can be submitted to the NIOSH Docket Officer electronically by email at nioshdocket@cdc.gov or printed comments can be mailed to:

NIOSH Docket Office
Robert A. Taft Laboratories, MS-C34
1090 Tusculum Avenue
Cincinnati, OH 45226
Please include the Site Profile/Docket Number (151) on all comments.

Comments Received

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