Proposed rule would reclassify cancer type for nuclear weapons workers

Washington – A proposed rule (.pdf file) from the Department of Health and Human Services would reverse the agency’s decision to exclude a certain type of cancer from being considered work-related for Department of Energy nuclear weapons workers.

Published in the March 21 Federal Register, the rule would classify chronic lymphocytic leukemia as a radiogenic cancer under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act. Under current guidelines, all types of cancer except CLL are considered to be potentially caused by radiation and therefore compensable.

Comments on the proposal are due June 20.