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Casualties Of The Cold War: Native American Miners
For several decades, miners from several American Indian tribes have been drilling deep below the Colorado Plateau. Soft, yellow uranium ore is obtained by drilling it out of rock in the mine. The uranium that was mined was used to create nuclear warheads for the United States during the Cold War, a key factor in its victory. More information on the topic of lawyers is located at altona personal injury lawyers.
The downside is how many of these miners have become casualties of that same Cold War. They are either dead or drying from cancer and other ailments blamed on exposure to radiation in the mines. Many more continue to fight for their lives even as their family members and friends have already died from work related illnesses.
It's very common to find a miner whose arms are covered with scar tissue from the harsh dialysis treatment required to fight the effects of uranium exposure. Many of the workers suffer from kidney failure, and being on dialysis is the required treatment. One or the most injurious factors in the mines was the drinking water that was provided, which has been tested and proven to be radioactive.
In 1990, U.S. Congress passed the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act. This law was passed for the purpose of helping the uranium miners and many others who have been suffering from work they've done in the mines. America's nuclear weapons were the primary benefactor of the mining work executed in those mines. If you like this article on lawyers visit box hill personal injury lawyer for more education.
The law provides $100,000 to each underground uranium miner. The only condition required was that they should have been diagnosed with one of six possible lung diseases that are linked to radiation exposure. Yet hundreds of American Indian miners who are eligible to receive these funds have not received a dime of it.
The act, as it was written, forces these miners to face conditions that are almost impossible to meet. The paperwork that is required for submitting a claim must be filled out and written in English. Unfortunately for the Indians, English is a language many do not understand well.
Only 96 of the 242 claims that have been filed through the Office of Navajo Uranium Workers have been approved. Overall, the Justice Department has approved 1,314 claims from former uranium miners. Additionally, they have denied 1,316 applications, to date.
The required records to prove that one actually worked in a uranium mine include paycheck stubs, as well as other forms of documentation. Those who have been working in the mines for decades don't tend to keep these records. Copies of such records are difficult to obtain.
In 1947, the first uranium mines were started on and near the Navajo Indian Reservation. The jobs and careers that accompanied the mines were welcomed in the beginning. Even though the conditions were miserable and the pay was low, they were glad to work.
At that time radon was one of the greatest dangers in those mines. Radon is a product of decaying uranium and is difficult to detect because it is colorless and odorless. Most of the lung ailments which make miners eligible for compensation are thought to be caused by exposure to radon.
This fall, former miners and tribal officials will lobby Congress to get changes made in the law so that former miners can more easily qualify for payments. The government's dilemma lies with the fact that the Navajo miners believe the quality of their work determines the reimbursement they collect.
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