Wednesday April 13, 2022

The Radiation Exposure Compensation Act was first passed in 1990. It provides benefits to those impacted by the nuclear weapons industry, including uranium mine workers and those downwind of atomic testing. But the act will expire on July 10th of this year, and there are people still alive who qualify but haven’t yet collected. Proponents are racing to pass a new bill that would expand coverage. Today on the news, we hear from those impacted by radiation exposure about the support they’re hoping for.

// Show Notes

// Photo: The Moab Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action Project is a reminder of the legacy of the uranium industry, its impact on the landscape and people. The project is cleaning up uranium tailings left by the former Atlas Minerals Corp Mill.

// US Department of Justice: Radiation Exposure Compensation Act
https://www.justice.gov/civil/common/reca

// HR 5338: Radiation Exposure Compensation Act Amendments of 2021
https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/5338?s=1&r=2

// New York Times: US Atomic Tests in 50s Exposed Millions To Risk
https://www.nytimes.com/1997/07/29/us/us-atomic-tests-in-50-s-exposed-millions-to-risk.html