The purpose of this page is to help employees of GEND - Pinellas Plant stay abreast of activities concerning their claims for compensation through the EEOICP program. Denise DeGarmo has represented many Pinellas claimants and has successfully filed for compensation for the following illnesses directly related to their work at the Pinellas Plant: Multiple Sclerosis, Skin Cancer, Chronic Beryllium Disease, Optic Neuritis, COPD, Lipoid Pneumonia, Small Cell Lung Cancer, Diabetes, Congestive Heart Failure, Astham, Sleep Apnea, Pulmonary Hypertension, Cardiomyopathy, Cerebal Infarction, to name just a few illnesses. Additionally, the author of this website is the author. Petition Representative for SEC Petition Pinellas Plant - 00256. If I can be further assistance or if you have questions, please use the contact form at the end of the page.
Background
"The Pinellas Plant, near St. Petersburg, Florida, was wholly owned by the United States Government. It was operated for the Department of Energy (DOE) by GE Aerospace, Neutron Devices (GEND). This plant was built in 1956 to manufacture neutron generators, a principal component in nuclear weapons. The neutron generators built at Neutron Devices consisted of a miniaturized linear ion accelerator assembled with the pulsed electrical power supplies required for its operation. Production of these devices necessitated the development of several uniquely specialized areas of competence and supporting facilities. The ion accelerator, or neutron tube, requires ultra clean, high vacuum technology; hermetic seals between glass, ceramic, glass-ceramic, and metal materials; plus high voltage generation and measurement technology. The existence of these capabilities at Neutron Devices led directly to the assignment of other weapon application products: the lightning arrester connector, specialty capacitor, vacuum switch, and crystal resonator. Other product assignments such as active and reserve batteries and the radioisotope-powered thermoelectric generator evolved from the plant`s materials measurement and controls technologies which are required to ensure neutron generator life." Citation: Pinellas Plant facts. United States: N. p., 1990. Web. doi:10.2172/451177.
Special Exposure Cohort Petition Information
The Special Exposure Cohort (SEC) is a unique category of employees established by The Act (42 CFR Part 83). Claims compensated under the SEC do not have to go through the dose reconstruction process. To qualify for compensation under the SEC, a covered employee must meet specific requirements (e.g., must have at least one of 22 “specified cancers,” and have worked for a specified time period at one of the SEC sites). Classes of employees and work sites can be considered for addition to the SEC through a NIOSH petition process. More information about the Special Exposure Cohort can be found on our Frequently Asked Questions page.
Open/Active SEC Petition: There is currently one open/active SEC petition from Pinellas Plant, Petition 256. The Advisory Board on Radiation and Worker Health has received the SEC Petition Evaluation Report from NIOSH, will review it, and will send its recommendation to the Secretary of Health and Human Service.
Date Received December 16, 2019
Date Qualified for Evaluation October 20, 2020
Summary of Information in Petition Location: Clearwater, Florida
Period of Employment: August 1, 1957 through December 31, 1997
Note: The information above is what qualified for evaluation. During our evaluation of whether dose reconstructions can adequately be completed for the above job titles and period of employment, information may cause NIOSH to change some the dates or job titles/duties. Therefore, as this petition proceeds through the SEC petition process and if an SEC class is proposed, the proposed class may not exactly match the above information.
Copy of the Petition Received August 17, 2020 (revised) [7 MB (75 pages)]
(August 1, 1957 through December 31, 1997)
Note: Petitioner originally submitted the petition on December 16, 2019.
Federal Register Notice Announcing that a Pinellas Plant SEC Petition has met the Minimum Qualifications for Review and Evaluation October 30, 2020 [55 KB (1 page)] (May 19, 1957 through December 31, 1997
SEC Petition Evaluation Report October 13, 2021 [1.2 MB (130 pages)] (January 1, 1957 through December 31, 1990)
Evaluation Report Sent to the Advisory Board November 4, 2021 (January 1, 1957 through December 31, 1990)
Petition Discussed by the Advisory Board: Not applicable at this time.
Advisory Board Recommendation on SEC Petition: Not applicable at this time.
HHS Letters to Congress Regarding the SEC Petition: Not applicable at this time.
HHS Designation/Determination of Additional Members to the SEC: Not applicable at this time.
Federal Register Notice: Designation/Determination of a Class of Employees for Addition to the Special Exposure CohortNot applicable at this time.
Effective Date for the SEC Class Note: This only applies if the class is added to the SEC.
Federal Register Notice: Final Effect of Designation of a Class of Employees for Addition to the Special Exposure CohortNote: This only applies if the class is added to the SEC.
Letter to DOL Regarding the Addition of a New Class of Employees to the SEC Note: This only applies if the class is added to the SEC.
Background
"The Pinellas Plant, near St. Petersburg, Florida, was wholly owned by the United States Government. It was operated for the Department of Energy (DOE) by GE Aerospace, Neutron Devices (GEND). This plant was built in 1956 to manufacture neutron generators, a principal component in nuclear weapons. The neutron generators built at Neutron Devices consisted of a miniaturized linear ion accelerator assembled with the pulsed electrical power supplies required for its operation. Production of these devices necessitated the development of several uniquely specialized areas of competence and supporting facilities. The ion accelerator, or neutron tube, requires ultra clean, high vacuum technology; hermetic seals between glass, ceramic, glass-ceramic, and metal materials; plus high voltage generation and measurement technology. The existence of these capabilities at Neutron Devices led directly to the assignment of other weapon application products: the lightning arrester connector, specialty capacitor, vacuum switch, and crystal resonator. Other product assignments such as active and reserve batteries and the radioisotope-powered thermoelectric generator evolved from the plant`s materials measurement and controls technologies which are required to ensure neutron generator life." Citation: Pinellas Plant facts. United States: N. p., 1990. Web. doi:10.2172/451177.
Special Exposure Cohort Petition Information
The Special Exposure Cohort (SEC) is a unique category of employees established by The Act (42 CFR Part 83). Claims compensated under the SEC do not have to go through the dose reconstruction process. To qualify for compensation under the SEC, a covered employee must meet specific requirements (e.g., must have at least one of 22 “specified cancers,” and have worked for a specified time period at one of the SEC sites). Classes of employees and work sites can be considered for addition to the SEC through a NIOSH petition process. More information about the Special Exposure Cohort can be found on our Frequently Asked Questions page.
Open/Active SEC Petition: There is currently one open/active SEC petition from Pinellas Plant, Petition 256. The Advisory Board on Radiation and Worker Health has received the SEC Petition Evaluation Report from NIOSH, will review it, and will send its recommendation to the Secretary of Health and Human Service.
Date Received December 16, 2019
Date Qualified for Evaluation October 20, 2020
Summary of Information in Petition Location: Clearwater, Florida
Period of Employment: August 1, 1957 through December 31, 1997
Note: The information above is what qualified for evaluation. During our evaluation of whether dose reconstructions can adequately be completed for the above job titles and period of employment, information may cause NIOSH to change some the dates or job titles/duties. Therefore, as this petition proceeds through the SEC petition process and if an SEC class is proposed, the proposed class may not exactly match the above information.
Copy of the Petition Received August 17, 2020 (revised) [7 MB (75 pages)]
(August 1, 1957 through December 31, 1997)
Note: Petitioner originally submitted the petition on December 16, 2019.
Federal Register Notice Announcing that a Pinellas Plant SEC Petition has met the Minimum Qualifications for Review and Evaluation October 30, 2020 [55 KB (1 page)] (May 19, 1957 through December 31, 1997
SEC Petition Evaluation Report October 13, 2021 [1.2 MB (130 pages)] (January 1, 1957 through December 31, 1990)
Evaluation Report Sent to the Advisory Board November 4, 2021 (January 1, 1957 through December 31, 1990)
Petition Discussed by the Advisory Board: Not applicable at this time.
Advisory Board Recommendation on SEC Petition: Not applicable at this time.
HHS Letters to Congress Regarding the SEC Petition: Not applicable at this time.
HHS Designation/Determination of Additional Members to the SEC: Not applicable at this time.
Federal Register Notice: Designation/Determination of a Class of Employees for Addition to the Special Exposure CohortNot applicable at this time.
Effective Date for the SEC Class Note: This only applies if the class is added to the SEC.
Federal Register Notice: Final Effect of Designation of a Class of Employees for Addition to the Special Exposure CohortNote: This only applies if the class is added to the SEC.
Letter to DOL Regarding the Addition of a New Class of Employees to the SEC Note: This only applies if the class is added to the SEC.