Area IV Of The Santa Susana Field Laboratory
Also Known As: Nuclear Development Field Laboratory (NDFL), Liquid Metal Engineering Center (LMEC), Energy Technology Engineering Center (ETC)
State: California
Location: Santa Susana, Area IV
Time Period: DOE 1955-1988; DOE remediation 1988-present
Facility Type: Department of Energy
Facility Description
The Santa Susana Field Laboratory (SSFL) is located in eastern Ventura County, California, and borders Los Angeles County. TheSSFL is divided into four administrative and operational portions based on ownership and operations. Area IV was devoted to nuclear operations. It is Area IV that is covered under EEOICPA as a DOE facility.
Coverage includes, but is not necessarily limited to the following operations:
- The Energy Technology Engineering Center (ETEC), the Nuclear Development Field Laboratory (NDFL), and the Liquid Metal Engineering Center (LMEC). This also includes the Sodium Reactor Experiment Facility, the Kinetics Experiment Water Boiler Facility, the Water Boiler Neutron source (which is also known as the AE-6/L-85 Facility), the Organic Moderated Reactor, as well as facilities in Area IV associated with the Systems for Nuclear Auxiliary Power (SNAP) Program; the Sodium Graphite Reactor Critical Facility, the Shield Test Experiment/Shield Test Irradiation Reactor Facility, the Advanced Epithermal Thorium Test Facility, the Hot Lab Facility, the Fuel Storage Facility, the Radioactive Measurement Facility, the Radioactive Material Handling Facility, the Van De Graaff Accelerator Facility and the Radiation Instrument Calibration Laboratory.
- Decontamination, decommissioning and demolition of radiological facilities in Area IV has been funded by the DOE beginning in the 1970’s, but predominantly since 1988.
Throughout the course of operations in Area IV, the potential for beryllium exposure existed.
Contractors: The Boeing Company (1996-present); Rockwell International (1973-1996); North American Rockwell (1968-1973); North American Aviation (1955-1967).
Listing
Area IV of the Santa Susana Field Laboratory is listed as an Department of Energy (DOE) site under the EEOICPA.
Special Exposure Cohort (SEC) Classes
The SEC classes for Area IV of the Santa Susana Field Laboratory include:
- All employees of the Department of Energy (DOE), its predecessor agencies, and DOE contractors and subcontractors who worked in any area of Area IV of the Santa Susana Field Laboratory for a number of work days aggregating at least 250 work days from January 1, 1955 through December 31, 1958, or in combination with work days within the parameters established for one or more other classes of employees in the SEC.
- All employees of the Department of Energy, its predecessor agencies, and their contractors and subcontractors who worked in any area of Area IV of the Santa Susana Field Laboratory from January 1, 1959 through December 31, 1964, 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 included in the SEC.
- All employees of the Department of Energy, its predecessor agencies, and their contractors or subcontractors who worked in any area of Area IV of the Santa Susana Field Laboratory in Ventura County, California from January 1, 1965, through December 31, 1988, 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 included in the SEC.
History
Area IV of Santa Susana Field Laboratory is a section of a now closed research facility located in California about 30 miles northwest of Los Angeles. In 1947, the site was chosen for testing liquid-propelled rocket engines, the placement of nuclear reactors, and a U.S. government sponsored liquid metals research center. The area was divided into four production areas (I-IV) and two buffer areas. Production area IV was used mainly for nuclear reactor experimentation. More than ten nuclear reactors were built in Area IV and at least four of them suffered fires. In 1959, a partial nuclear meltdown occurred. A massive cleanup was started by DOE and NASA in 2010 and is scheduled to be completed in 2017. The major portion of the land will be turned into a park and permanently restricted to nonresidential and noncommercial use.
Compensation
As of 07/19/2015, 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 Area IV of the Santa Susana Field Laboratory is $54,715,007.
Area IV of the Santa Susana Field Laboratory 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 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.
Videos
Further History of the Santa Susana Field Laboratory can be seen below:
Another perspective of the activities at Santa Susana can be seen in this video:
Some more personal histories of the activities at Area IV of the Santa Susana Field Laboratory, specifically concerning a meltdown that occurred at the site in 1959, can be seen below:
Part I –
Part II –
DOCUMENTS
NIOSH:
Petition Evaluation Reports
Technical Basis Documents – Site Profile
SC&A
DOE
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