The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Legacy Management (LM) experienced a 19 percent increase in the total number of stakeholder requests from fiscal year (FY) 2013 to FY 2014, according to Dr. Edwin Parks, LM Program Analyst.

LM provides stakeholders with information in response to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), Privacy Act, Energy Employee’s Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA) claims, and other routine requests.

Image
An LM contractor employee searches site records in response to a stakeholder request
for information.

Request volumes had been steady in previous fiscal years, but during FY 2014, LM processed nearly 1,860 requests. Dr. Parks attributes the rise to an increase in EEOICPA requests for the Rocky Flats site in Colorado between FY 2013 and FY 2014.

The increase of Rocky Flats requests follows changes to the Special Exposure Cohort (SEC) that eases the EEOICPA claims process for qualified former energy workers. Previously, two SEC classes that covered Rocky Flats workers from 1952 through 1966 were established. A new, third class extends coverage to qualifying workers from 1952 through 1983.

Image
This chart shows a significant increase in requests from FY 2013 to FY 2014.

The new Rocky Flats SEC class has been followed by an increase of nearly 60 percent in new claims for EEOICPA compensation. This includes previously denied claims currently being submitted under the expanded eligibility.

Even with the influx of Rocky Flats EEOICPA requests, LM continued to complete all information requests in a timely manner, according to regulations and statutes. In addition to reexamining and improving the efficiency of its requests process, LM reprioritized resources, as necessary, to complete all requests on schedule.

According to Dr. Parks, LM ensures the timeliness of its responses to incoming requests by tracking them on a daily basis. The statistics are then compiled into reports that keep LM management informed of response progress.