New Mexico Governor Richardson Appoints Director of New Office of Nuclear Workers Advocacy

Former LANL Employee, EEOICA Caseworker Loretta Valerio Brings Experience to Assist Nuclear Workers

August 29, 2007 -- (Santa Fe, NM) Today, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson announced the appointment of Loretta Valerio as the Director of the newly established Office of Nuclear Worker’s Advocacy. The Office of Nuclear Worker’s Advocacy was passed in the 2007 legislative session and signed into law by Governor Richardson.

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“Ms. Valerio brings important experience to help workers who suffer from illness incurred, while providing for America’s security, get the compensation and medical treatment they deserve,” said Governor Bill Richardson. “As DOE Secretary I pushed for the creation of the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program, and this office, as one of the first of its kind in the nation, continues my commitment these workers.”

Ms. Valerio has served as a caseworker for the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation program in Espanola for the past six years with Paragon Technical services and the Eagle Research Group. Ms. Valerio understands the complex process of applying, documenting, and following-up with the federal government.

As ombudsman Ms. Valerio will act as a liaison between claimants, and the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Resource Center, union officials, DOE contractors, retiree groups and others to provide assistance and guidance to those individuals who encounter obstacles in the adjudication of their claim. There are currently 12,933 New Mexico applications filed with the Department of Labor, which includes uranium industry employees (qualified under the RECA program), current and former workers as well as eligible survivors of the DOE workers.

“I believe that it is the duty of the State of New Mexico to advocate and assist nuclear workers who have been exposed to toxic substances, which have adversely affected their bodies, livelihood and quality of life,” said bill author Speaker Ben Lujan. “The current

system requires lay people to navigate through a difficult bureaucracy. Now these workers and their families can be given the attention and assistance they truly deserve.”

HB 779 establishing the Office of Nuclear Worker’s Advocacy was sponsored by Speaker Ben Lujan and will act as a liaison for workers seeking compensation from the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Act (EEOICA). The EEOICA program delivers assistance, compensation and payment of medical services to eligible employees and former employees of the US Department of Energy. As Secretary of Energy, Mr. Richardson helped push through the EEOICA through Congress, which has provided over $2 billion in compensation for nuclear workers across the United States.

“Governor Richardson has directed me to help New Mexican nuclear workers get the health-care they need, and compensation they and their families deserve,” said Loretta Valerio, Director of the Office of Nuclear Workers Advocacy.

The Office of Nuclear Workers will be housed at Aspen Plaza, 1596 Pacheco Street, Room 206 in Santa Fe starting on August 27, 2007. Current and former nuclear workers who seek would like to apply and seek assistance for compensation from the EEOICA should contact their office at 505-827-1636.

Source: New Mexico Governor