United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 2001-09-17 monographic deposited born digital 32 p. GA 1.13:GAO-01-1043 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-1043 P0b002ee1803752f1 f:d011043 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-23 GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-1043 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-1043 GAO-01-1043 Compensation claims Radiation accidents Radiation safety Victim compensation Eligibility criteria Nuclear weapons testing Radiation Exposure Compensation Program Radiation Exposure Compensation Trust Fund Other Written Product A01775 From 1945 through 1962, the United States conducted a series of aboveground atomic weapons tests as it built up its Cold War nuclear arsenal. Many people exposed to radiation resulting from the nuclear weapons testing program subsequently developed serious diseases, including various types of cancer. On October 15, 1990, in order to establish a procedure to make partial restitution to these victims for their suffering, the President signed into law the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA). RECA established the Radiation Exposure Compensation Trust Fund (Trust Fund), criteria for determining claimant eligibility for compensation, and a program, administered by the Attorney General, to process and adjudicate claims under the act. The Department of Justice (DOJ) established the Radiation Exposure Compensation Program (RECP) within its Civil Division to administer its responsibilities under the act. Through the end of fiscal year 2000, RCEP has received 7,819 applications for compensation. Roughly equal numbers of applications have been approved and denied, awarding compensation to about 46 percent of the claimants and denying compensation to about 46 percent. RECA claims are most frequently denied because the disease contracted by the victim is not specifically designated as eligible for compensation under the RECA program. The costs for administering RECP have fluctuated from the first full year of program implementation, fiscal year 1993, through fiscal year 2000. For example, administrative costs were $2.1 million in fiscal year 1993 and $1.3 million in fiscal year 2000. DOJ has procedures in place to certify that funds are appropriately disbursed from the Trust Fund. A review of the payment documentation for 30 randomly selected RECA cases, where compensation was awarded, indicated that all payments were made as authorized. To identify and inform candidates of their potential eligibility for compensation under the program and to help them apply for funds, RECP engages in three primary outreach programs. The program has established an Internet website, conducts onsite visits to groups and organizations to promote the program, and operates a toll-free telephone line for program queries. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-1043/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-1043.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-1043/pdf/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-1043.pdf GAO-01-1043 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-1043 Other Written Product GAO-01-1043; Radiation Exposure Compensation: Analysis of Justice's Program Administration; Compensation claims Radiation accidents Radiation safety Victim compensation Eligibility criteria Nuclear weapons testing Radiation Exposure Compensation Program Radiation Exposure Compensation Trust Fund Volume 102 Page 485 102 Stat. 485 Volume 104 Page 920 Volume 104 Page 1835 104 Stat. 920 104 Stat. 1835 Volume 106 Page 3131 106 Stat. 3131 Volume 114 Page 501 Volume 114 Page 1654 114 Stat. 501 114 Stat. 1654 Public Law 100-321 Public Law 101-426 Public Law 101-510 Public Law 102-486 Public Law 106-245 Public Law 106-398