Kellex/ Pierpont

Also Known As: Vitro Corp of America, Kellex Corp.
State: New Jersey
Location: Jersey City
Time Period: AWE 1943-1953; Residual Radiation 1954-1978; 1981-1983; DOE 1979-1980 (remediation)
Facility Type: Atomic Weapons Employer Department of Energy

Facility Description

In 1943, the M.W. Kellogg Company established the Kellex Corporation to design and construct the first gaseous diffusion uranium enrichment facility, the K-25 Plant, in Oak Ridge TN. This work was conducted under contract to the Manhattan Engineer District (MED) and later to the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC). In the 1940s and early 1950s, Kellex conducted research and development on fuel reprocessing and component testing using uranium hexafluoride, and uranium processing and recovery techniques at. In 1951, the Vitro Corporation of America assumed all the rights and obligations of the Kellex Corporation. In 1953, Kellex discontinued all AEC contract work at the Kellex/Pierpont site.

Remediation activities under the Formerly Utilized Site Remediation Action Program (FUSRAP) occurred in 1979 and 1980 by Tobar Construction and Envirosphere Co.. The cleanup was certified in 1983.

During the period of residual contamination, as designated by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and as noted in the dates above, employees of subsequent owners and operators of this facility are also covered under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act.

Listing

Kellex/ Pierpont is listed as an Atomic Weapons Employer (AWE) site from 1943-78 and 1981-83, and as a Department of Energy (DOE) site from 1979-80.

Classes

Atomic Weapons Employer (AWE) employees who worked at the Kellex/ Pierpont facility in Jersey City, New Jersey, from January 1, 1943, through December 31, 1953, for a number of work days aggregating at least 250 work days occurring either solely under this employment or in combination with work days within the parameters established for one or more other classes of employees in the Special Exposure Cohort.

Compensation

As of 08/10/2015, the total compensation paid under Parts B and E of the EEOICPA, including medical compensation, for workers suffering from the effects of having worked at the Kellex/Pierpont is $1,378,039.

Kellex/Pierpont Workers

If you or your parent worked at this or any other DOE or AWE facility and became ill, you may be entitled to compensation of up to $400K plus medical benefits from the US Department of Labor. Call EEOICPA Counsel Hugh Stephens at 1-855-EEOICPA (336-4272) or fill out the form to the right, whether or not you have already filed a claim and even if your claim has been accepted or denied.

We can help with all OWCP (Federal Workers Compensation) claims, impairments, wage loss and health care. 2495 Main Street, Suite 442 Buffalo, NY 14214.

Site Description and History

The Jersey City, New Jersey, Site (formerly known as the Kellex/Pierpont site and as the former Kellex Laboratory site) is located at the intersection of New Jersey Route 440 and Kellog Street. The approximately 43-acre site was used for research, and more than 20 buildings contained radioactive materials. The Kellex Corporation (Kellex), operated the site between 1943 and 1952. One of the buildings was decontaminated and demolished in 1953, leaving only theconcrete pad, and all the original buildings have since been demolished as well.

A shopping center was constructed in the central portion of the site, and a supermarket is located near the south end of the property. The remainder of the various parcels that make up the site are privately owned and used for commercial or residential purposes.

Kellex played a major role in the Manhattan Project, as it designed and constructed the first gaseous diffusion uranium enrichment plant under a 1942 Manhattan Engineer District (MED) contract. Work for the MED and its successor agency, the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission (AEC), continued until 1953 and included research and development of fuel reprocessing and component testing with uranium hexafluoride as well as development and use of uranium processing and recovery techniques. This and other work resulted in elevated radioactivity in a few isolated and well-defined areas on or near the former Kellex Laboratory and in several spotty areas in the northern and western portions of the site.

The initial remedial action at the Jersey City site began in July 1979 and was completed in January 1980. This effort was devoted to the decontamination of three small land areas on the portion of the site known as the Delco-Levco property, which was being developed into a shopping area. Approximately 1,000 55-gallon drums of slightly radioactive soil and debris were removed and shipped to Barnwell, South Carolina, for disposal. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) completed remedial action in 1981 with the removal of the remaining contaminated soil and debris from the site. A total of 273 cubic yards of low-level radioactive waste was shipped to and disposed of at Barnwell. Remediation of the Jersey City site was performed under the Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program (FUSRAP).

kellex_pierpont_jersey_city_map

DOCUMENTS

NIOSH SEC Petition Evaluation Reports

Petition 100 (Jan 1, 1943 to Dec 31, 1953)
SEC Petition Evaluation Report, Petition SEC-00100, Rev #: 0
Report Submittal Date: February 19, 2008

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EEOICPA CLAIMS

If you or your parent worked any of the DOE or AWE facilities listed on this website and became ill, you may be entitled to compensation of up to $400K plus medical benefits from the US Department of Labor.

Call EEOICPA Counsel Hugh Stephens at 1-800-548-4494, email hstephens@stephensstephens.com, or fill out the form below whether or not you have already filed a claim and even if your claim has been accepted or denied.

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Contact Us

Address:
2495 Main Street, Suite 442
Buffalo, New York 14214

Phone:
(716) 852-7590

Fax:
(716) 852-7599

After Hours:
(716) 208-3525

Email Us:
R. William Stephens, Esq.
R. Hugh Stephens, Esq.
Lisa P. Neff, Esq.

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