Udall legislation would expand RECA benefits to miners and extended families (Uranium miners from 1971-1983-Modern Uranium Mining)

A Hard Rain

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The Hazards of Modern Uranium Mining!

Comment: Is this the reason Virginia is starting the uranium mining in Southside, please read the following statement: “When you don't have an education and there is little or no work, you don't have a choice. Mining is all there was." Also, future uranium miners, throw your clothes away before you go home, you better make that $60,000 pay because your clothes will make your family sick! No to Uranium Mining!

By Bertha Parker
Beacon correspondent

LAGUNA - Laguna Pueblo Governor John E. Antonio, Sr., welcomed about 100 interested persons from Laguna and the surrounding communities to the Laguna-Acoma Coalition for a Safe Environment survey results presentation on Post '71 uranium workers health issues.

Governor Antonio said, “In 1953 uranium mining was opened at Laguna Pueblo at a great cost physically and emotionally. We are doing our part to help mediate the results. Some may want to bring mining back but at what cost? I hope you think twice before you consider that step.

“We have had the opportunity to go to Washington, D.C., and to plead with them to change the laws. We encourage everyone to stick together. And everybody needs to be contracted even our family members and members of congress to address our concerns, particularly those members who directly represent Laguna, as well as other key members,” said Antonio.

Linda Evers, of the Post '71Uranium Workers Committee, said “As of Thursday Senator Udall has said the RECA bill is non-negotiable. He is getting amendments to the bill ready for introduction. They are getting ready to introduce it in the January session. There is no negotiation.”

Lucero said “Call senators and congressmen.

Let them know Tom Udall has a RECA amendment coming up and you would like them to support our efforts to get compensation for the Post '71 workers. We've been told over 10,000 phone calls have been generated in a three-week period by our organization. If we can get these types of phone calls through we can get the amendments pushed through this year. Getting the amendment and the bill in place is the first step. Right now that is the plan. As soon as the session open he is going to introduce the RECA bill.”

Laguna Governor on Mount Taylor . . . You can still hunt

“We passed a moratorium on the Laguna Reservation that says 'no' further mining. We support Mount Taylor as a traditional cultural property. We are not trying to keep anybody from the mountain. You can still hunt. We wanted a seat at the table. I hope this will join us rather than separate us,” said Governor Antonio.

Evers presented the results of the survey the committee conducted. According to Evers “there are some reasons for expanding RECA. We will show you why we want them to expand benefits. 929 living or deceased workers reported health conditions of which 33 percent died of cancer and 67 percent died of other causes.”

“This summer with the help of volunteers and students we got a follow-up survey on the medical aspects. On the first survey many people simply said they were sick and didn't elaborate. We have a lot better information today. We sent surveys off in the spring and 1,302 workers responded. 351 provided information in the first survey but did not respond to the second. 695 provided new or updated medical information while 184 did not provide any information and 72 were not eligible because they didn't reside in New Mexico” said Evers.

“Ethnic respondents were 57 percent Hispanic which is 597, 21 percent were white or 224, 21 percent Native American or 217 and eight other ethnicities. Native Americans were 40 percent Pueblo and 57 percent Navajo and Other Native American were 3 percent,” said Evers.

Adverse health effects

What are the adverse health effects reported on the survey?

“Of the 695 workers who provided supplemental survey data 286 are currently being treated for health problems, 128 were treated in the past and 98 can't afford treatment. 1,167 living workers and 69 are deceased workers”, said Evers.

According to the survey pre '71 workers worked almost twice as long as Post '71. Both have respiratory problems, chronic skin blisters, tumors and blood tissues with 1 to 5 percent differences.

“Four federal agencies have identified medical conditions related to working with uranium.

Combined, these four agencies recognize 25 uranium related conditions, however, RECA only compensates eight of these conditions” said Liz Lucero, volunteer with Post '71 committee.

“Questions included in the survey were: Were you instructed not to launder your clothes at home?

No, we were not told. 95 percent said they laundered their clothes at home.

 In the male reproductive disorders 43 were sterile and 25 had prostate cancer and six were sterile while five had cancer. Many uranium-related medical conditions can take up to 20 or 30 years to emerge,” concluded Lucero.

According to the survey on female reproductive disorders, “40 percent of spouses have at least one miscarriage, still birth, or child with a birth defect. Of these women 15 percent of spouses have more than one disorder.”

Alfred Godfrey, resident of Bluewater Village, worked for the mines from 1977 to 1982 and was diagnosed with prostate cancer. According to Evers “this is a common malady resulting from contaminants found in uranium dust.”

Godfrey said “I was hoping Senator Udall would be here as mentioned in the Beacon newspaper,” as he displayed the newspaper clipping.

“When you don't have an education and there is little or no work, you don't have a choice. Mining is all there was. You have to provide for your family.

Drucilla Siow of Seama Village worked as a miner at the Anaconda Jack Pile located north towards Paguate. Drucilla worked at the mines for six years.

First, as a drop and then as driver on the big trucks. “My concern is that workers who worked above ground were facing daily contamination. The trucks back up and drop their cargo and I was right there exposed to flying dirt and ore itself. I am having joint pain and have osteoarthritis and diabetes. I worked at the mines from 1970 to 1979. I am also worried about the exposure to my family and husband,” said Siow.

Frank Siow, spouse to Drucilla, said “I've been diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis. I had thought it was due to Agent Orange but the Veterans Department disagrees. Because we did our laundry jointly we have concerns about the health of our children as well. We have three daughters and one who is age 41 is now experiencing health problems.”

June Lorenzo, in-house attorney for Laguna Pueblo, said “This is personal. I grew up in Paguate. My father was a miner. My father brought his lunch leftovers and I would go through them. We really didn't know what would happen in ten or 56 years.”

Read more:
http://www.cibolabeacon.com/articles/2009/12/17/news/doc4b2abd71d8d9a091980376.txt