Nuclear Metals Information

Nuclear Metals, Inc. was incorporated in 1954 as a DOE contractor to take over the research and development work previously performed by MIT’s Metallurgical Laboratory. The work performed by Nuclear Metals, Inc. employees during this period is covered under EEOICPA under a separate facility listing. (See the Hood Building.) However, on October 29, 1958, the company moved from the Hood Building to their new West Concord location, and that is the location described in this listing.

In 1958, Nuclear Metals began operating as an AWE facility that produced depleted uranium products, primarily as penetrators for armor-piercing ammunition. It also supplied copper-plated uranium billets that were used to fuel Savannah River’s production reactors. Other work at this facility included the manufacture of metal powders for medical applications, photocopiers and other applications. Thorium and thorium oxide were also handled at the site under license to the NRC.

During the period from 1962-1986, Nuclear Metals was the sole source supplier for beryllium alloy end closure fuel element rings used in the “N” Reactor in Richland.
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.

Alternative Names

• Starmet, Incorporated
• Whittaker Corporation, Nuclear Metals Division
• NMI

Type of Facility

• Atomic Weapons Employer
• Beryllium Vendor

Covered by EEOICPA

• Part B, Part E, Both Part B and Part E

EEOICPA Covered Years

• October 29,1958-1986 (beryllium vendor)
• October 29,1958-1990 (AWE)
• 1991-March 1, 2011 (residual radiation)

Did work for:

• Savannah River Site

DOE

• DOE Facility List by Name
• FUSRAP Considered Site

DOL

• Tracking your DOL Claim Status
• Advisory Board on Toxic Substances and Worker Health
• Ombudsman’s Office
• Resource Center
• DOL Case and Claim Statistics
• Approved Special Exposure Cohorts
• Circular 03-01: Updates to the time frames for certain covered facilities
• Circular 13-05: Nuclear Metals, Inc. Special Exposure Cohort (SEC) Class from October 29, 1958 through December 31, 1979
• Circular 14-08: Nuclear Metals, Inc. Special Exposure Cohort (SEC) Class from January 1, 1980 through December 31, 1990

NIOSH

• Tracking your NIOSH Case Status
• Advisory Board on Radiation and Worker Health
• AWE Site Wide Documents
• NIOSH Case Statistics
• Special Exposure Cohort Status Table
  • Petition 195: “All Atomic Weapons Employees who worked at the facility owned by Nuclear Metals, Inc. (or a subsequent owner) in West Concord, Massachusetts, during the period from October 29, 1958, through December 31, 1979, 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 Special Exposure Cohort.”
  • Petition 195: “All Atomic Weapons Employees who worked at the facility owned by Nuclear Metals, Inc. (or a subsequent owner) in West Concord, Massachusetts, during the period from January 1, 1980, through December 31, 1990, 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 Special Exposure Cohort.”
• Work Site Information

Other Resources

• Waste Lands-America’s Forgotten Nuclear Legacy Database