The Department of Labor plans to reopen and extend the public comment period on proposed changes to the government’s nuclear workers compensation program. Dozens of changes to the process for evaluating claims and making awards were initially proposed in November 2015, with the comment period open through Jan. 19, 2016. That comment period was extended for another 30 days at the request of the Alliance of Nuclear Workers Advocacy Groups and others, and the Labor Department is now reopening the window for public comment following a recent letter from U.S. Sens. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., and Tom Udall, D-N.M., asked Labor to postpone the implementation of the rules changes on the Energy Employees Occupational Illness and Compensation Program. The new comment period will be open through May 9.

Alexander and Udah asked that the changes be delayed until a new advisory board, which is scheduled to meet for the first time later this month, has a chance to review the proposal.

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