Kelsey Landis | Post-Dispatch
CLAYTON -- St. Louis-area residents sickened by radiation exposure may now apply for financial compensation under a new federal program.
Congress passed an expanded Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, or RECA, earlier this summer, opening eligibility to Missourians in certain zip codes.
Applicants will have to prove their illnesses were caused by exposure to radiation from Mallinckrodt Chemical Works' processing of uranium ore at its downtown St. Louis plant, which was contracted under the Manhattan Project during World War II to help develop the atomic bomb.
Some of Mallinckrodt's waste was stored at sites near the airport in north St. Louis County, where it eventually contaminated areas along the Coldwater Creek watershed. Some of that waste later was buried at West Lake Landfill in Bridgeton.
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People who developed certain cancers and other diseases after exposure are eligible for a tax-free payment of $50,000, or unlimited reimbursement for out-of-pocket medical expenses. There also are some survivor benefits available.
Here's what you need to know about filing a claim:
How do I apply?
The U.S. Department of Justice's online portal is unavailable, but the 24-page claim form may be downloaded from the department's website: justice.gov/civil/media/1410736/dl?inline
The form must be printed, completed and mailed, along with documentation to: U.S. Department of Justice, Radiation Exposure Compensation Program, P.O. Box 146, Ben Franklin Station, Washington, DC 20044-0146.
All claims must be filed by December 31, 2027.
What zip codes are eligible?
You may be eligible if you lived, worked or went to school in the following zip codes for more than two years after January 1, 1949:
In St. Louis County: 63031, 63033, 63034, 63042, 63043, 63044, 63045, 63074, 63102, 63114, 63121, 63134, 63135, 63138, 63140, 63145 or 63147.In St. Louis and St. Charles County: 63147, 63304, 63341, 63368 or 63367.What cancers are included?
You must have lived, worked or attended school in the zip codes for at least two years before the onset of any of the following cancers: any leukemia, assuming the initial exposure happened after age 20; multiple myeloma; lymphoma (except Hodgkin's disease); or cancer of the thyroid, breast, esophagus, stomach, pharynx, small intestine, pancreas, bile duct, gall bladder, salivary gland, urinary bladder, brain, colon, ovary, bone, renal system, liver or lung.
If you have more than one of these illnesses, you still would be eligible for only one compensation payment.
Are survivors eligible?
If your spouse or immediate relative died from any of those cancers, and would have been eligible for compensation, you could receive a tax-free payment of $25,000. Multiple beneficiaries would have to divide the money.
How do I prove I was in the zip codes?
To prove you lived, worked or went to school in the affected zip codes within the eligible timeframe, you will need documentation.
These types of records could help: tax, school, employment, birth, marriage, voting, or church or religious records; personal letters or envelopes; or personal diaries.
You must provide the original documents or they must be certified by the organization that issued them.
How do I prove my illness?
You'll need to submit medical documents to prove you were diagnosed with an eligible cancer.
Those documents could include: pathology report of tissue biopsy or surgical resection; operative report; hospital discharge summary report; physician summary report; a death certificate dated and signed by a physician; autopsy report; proof of disease.
You also may ask your hospital or doctor's office to write a cover letter stating the records are accurate.
For survivors, certain records from the person who died could prove your relation, including: birth, death or marriage certificates. Include yours, too. Divorce decrees also can serve as proof.
Where can I find my records?
Recorder of Deeds offices maintain records that may help, including marriage licenses, real estate records, subdivision plats, and federal and state tax liens.
Vital records offices keep birth and death certificates.
The Missouri Bureau of Vital Records keeps long-form death certificates.
Where can I find help applying?
Beware of scammers who promise to help you apply. Some may say they are from a law firm. Others may charge exorbitant fees.
Here are some resources:
U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley's RECA hotline: 202-228-4388, or hawley.senate.govJust Moms STL: [email protected] or reca-missouri-resources.orgHelp obtaining St. Louis County records: [email protected] resource hub: 620 North Lafayette Street, Florissant, MO 63031, [email protected]. Department of Justice RECA program: [email protected] or justice.gov/civil/common/recaSt. Louis County's RECA website: stlouiscountymo.gov 0 Comments