The US Department of Energy has spent nearly $12 million (£9 million) contesting compensation claims from workers who became ill while working at the Hanford nuclear site, while 152 claims approved by Washington state remain tied up in appeals. About half of the workers associated with those cases have died, leaving families waiting for decisions on benefits.
The dispute highlights a gap between legal protections intended to help workers prove that their illnesses are work-related and the lengthy process of securing compensation. It also raises questions about how a federal agency can continue challenging claims after state officials have accepted them.
