[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 229 (Wednesday, November 30, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 71815]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-6706]



[[Page 71815]]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act of 
2000; Revision to List of Covered Facilities

AGENCY: Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of revision of listing of covered facilities.

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SUMMARY: Periodically, the Department of Energy (``Department'' or 
``DOE'') publishes a list of facilities covered under the Energy 
Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act of 2000 
(``Act''), Title 36 of Public Law 106-398 (66 FR 4003; 66 FR 31218). 
This notice revises the previous lists because it has been found that 
some designated atomic weapons employers should not have been so 
designated. Previous lists were published on August 23, 2004, July 21, 
2003, December 27, 2002, June 11, 2001 and January 17, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael A. Montopoli, MD, MPH, Acting 
Director, Office of Health Services (EH-54) 202-586-6178.

ADDRESSES: The Department welcomes comments on this list. Comments 
should be addressed to: Michael A. Montopoli, MD, MPH, Acting Director, 
Office of Health Services (EH-54), U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Purpose

    The Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act 
of 2000 (``Act''), Title 36 of Public Law 106-398, establishes a 
program to provide compensation to certain employees who developed 
illnesses as a result of their employment with the Department of 
Energy, its predecessor agencies and certain of its contractors and 
subcontractors. Section 3621 defines an atomic weapons employer (AWE) 
as an entity, other than the United States, that (A) processed or 
produced, for use by the United States, material that emitted radiation 
and was used in the production of an atomic weapon, excluding uranium 
mining and milling; and (B) is designated by the Secretary of Energy as 
an atomic weapons employer for purposes of the compensation program. 
Section 3621 goes on to define an atomic weapons employer facility as a 
facility, owned by an atomic weapons employer, that is or was used to 
process or produce, for use by the United States, material that emitted 
radiation and was used in the production of an atomic weapon, excluding 
uranium mining or milling.
    It has recently come to the attention of the Department that a 
number of entities previously designated as AWE's failed the basic 
definitional test for an AWE because the designated entities were 
agencies of the United States Government. Since the definition of an 
AWE specifically excludes the United States, these previously-made 
designations are invalid. To make it clear that these entities are not 
covered under the Act, this notice formally removes the following 
entities from the list.
     Frankford Arsenal, previously designated as an AWE in 
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
     National Bureau of Standards, Van Ness Street, previously 
designated as an AWE in the District of Columbia
     Seneca Army Depot, previously designated as an AWE in 
Romulus, New York
     Picatinny Arsenal, previously designated as an AWE in 
Dover, New Jersey

    Issued in Washington, DC, November 23, 2005.
Steven V. Cary,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health, Office of Environment, Safety 
and Health.
 [FR Doc. E5-6706 Filed 11-29-05; 8:45 am]
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