The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Legacy Management (LM) continued to see an increase in requests for records over the past year.

LM received 1,841 stakeholder requests during fiscal year (FY) 2015. Requests included information regarding the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), the Privacy Act, Energy Employee’s Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA) claims, and other routine records files. Records request volumes for FY 2015 and FY 2014 were higher than the volume of requests in preceding years.

EEOICPA requests increased from FY 2014 to FY 2015. The largest percentage increase was due to former workers from the Grand Junction, Colorado, facilities, followed by requests by former workers at the Fernald and Mound sites in Ohio.

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LM Program Analyst Jeanie Gueretta believes there are several possible explanations for the increase, including the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) increased EEOICPA program outreach to former workers who may be eligible for compensation.

Additionally, a new Special Exposure Cohort (SEC) class designation was implemented in June 2015 for the Grand Junction facilities. The SEC class includes employees who worked at the Grand Junction site for at least 250 work days, between February 1, 1975, and December 31, 1985. The first Grand Junction SEC class designation was implemented in 2011 and included employees who worked at the Grand Junction Operations Office from March 23, 1943, through January 31, 1975.

Establishing additional employee classifications has increased community awareness through program advocates and local media.

“The two special exposure cohorts established by DOL helps to streamline the claims process for former workers,” said Gueretta.

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Grand Junction, Colorado, records personnel search for information
to respond to and process former-worker employment claims.