Did your father or grandfather participate in the Atmospheric Nuclear tests as part of Operation Dominic between 1961 and 1962? Even if they are no longer alive, they maybe entitled to compensation under the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act. This includes UK service personnel who witnessed an atmospheric test, but unfortunately not cleanup crews.
The United States Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) allows “onsite participants” at atmospheric nuclear weapons tests who can claim participation in an onsite test and have had subsequent diagnosis of a specified disease to claim a lump sum payment of $75,000 even if they are a UK serviceman.
The Act covers the participation onsite in a test involving the atmospheric detonation of a nuclear device. “Onsite” means duty above or within the Pacific Test Sites, the Nevada Test Site, the South Atlantic Test Site, the Trinity Test Site, any designated location within a naval shipyard, air force base, or other official government installation where ships, aircraft or other equipment used in an atmospheric nuclear detonation were decontaminated; or any designated location used for the purpose of monitoring fallout from an atmospheric nuclear test conducted at the Nevada Test Site. “Atmospheric detonations of nuclear devices” means only those tests conducted by the United States prior to January 1, 1963. A claimant must establish both participation onsite in a test involving the atmospheric detonation of a nuclear device and a subsequent diagnosis of a specified compensable disease.
The claim deadline is 10 July 2022.
This compensation program is administered by the US Justice department. All participants of Operation Dominic who witnessed an atmospheric test no matter which country they are from can claim.
UK participants who meet the criteria have been successful in receiving the compensation, the British Nuclear Test Veterans (BNTVA) have helped many families receive the compensation, but there are a lot more who do not know about the program who may be eligible. We need to raise awareness of this compensation before 2022 to allow them to claim.
The BNTVA have a specific Operation Dominic representative, Eric Barton, who was present at Operation Dominic tests. He can be contacted on e.barton@bntva.com. He will help with the claim form and give advice to any family who believe they are eligible.
