Toxic Kitsap and Polluted Puget

This is about the high incidence of cancer at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard.
It is about my life as a shipyard worker and cancer survivor.

In February of 1993, I was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). I have, in the course of my own treatment, discovered that the incidence of leukemia in Kitsap County and Puget Sound Naval Shipyard appears to be catastrophic.

The incidence of chronic myeloid leukemia among Puget Sound Naval Shipyard employees is 68.9 times the national average. The increase of the incidence of chronic myeloid leukemia among the Atomic bomb survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki was 20-25 times normal, which is approximately 1/3 of the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard rate. This adds a new meaning to living and working at Ground Zero.

I worked for 37+ years as an electronics/engineering technician in the US Army, at the Boeing Company, and Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. I was a Microwave Radio Technician for the US Army and stationed at Ft. Meyer, VA and Camp David, MD from 1959-1961. I worked at the Boeing Company for three years (1961-1964). In April 1964, I began my employment at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. Since April 1994, I have been on a Federal disability annuity related to my leukemia.

During my years of employment, I was an active union member and leader. While working for the Boeing Company (1961-1964), I was elected the Recording Secretary of Machinist Union Local 751E. During my career at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard (1964-1994), I served as a shop steward and Chief Steward for Machinist Union Local 282, Acting Bremerton Metal Trades Council President, and Area representative for the IFPTE.

On 11-05-2001, I received the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard Annual Report of Navy Civilian Occupational Injuries and Illnesses for FY 1989 - 2000 in response to my FOIA request. These reports show no deaths and few lost time days even though hundreds of employees are ill or have died from asbestos related illnesses alone like mesothelioma.

Laws related to the workers' "right to know" and the employers' "obligation to tell" are being ignored or stonewalled. Accurate records and periodic reports on work-related deaths, injuries and illnesses are not maintained.

This is the law: Standards - 29 CFR Part 1904
- Recording and Reporting Occupational Injuries and Illnesses

This is the Navy & Marine Corps Mishap and Safety Investigation, Reporting, And Record Keeping Manual - OPNAVINST 5102.1D

The Navy and OWCP stonewalls every effort to receive workers' compensation for occupational illness. I contend that the findings of congress for DOE nuclear employees would be nearly identical for Navy civilian employees. The Department of Navy's policy to litigate occupational illness claims has deterred workers from filing workers compensation claims and imposed major financial burdens for workers who sought compensation. Affected DOE employees or their survivors are presently being awarded $150,000 by the new law. All other federal employees continue to be excluded from any compensation.