Manhattan Project Waste Claims Under the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA)

Manhattan Project Waste RECA Claims – Knoxville RECA Lawyer Overview

The federal government has established a compensation program for individuals who developed certain cancers after living, working, or attending school in areas affected by Manhattan Project nuclear waste contamination. This program, authorized under the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA), provides one-time lump-sum payments to qualifying individuals and their survivors. A Knoxville RECA lawyer at McLaughlin Legal can help you understand whether you or a loved one may qualify and guide you through the claims process for these time-sensitive benefits.

The RECA program was recently expanded in 2025 to include victims of Manhattan Project waste exposure in designated ZIP codes across Missouri, Tennessee, Alaska, and Kentucky. If you or a loved one lived, worked, or attended school in one of the designated Tennessee communities and later developed a covered cancer. An attorney in Knoxville, Tennessee, experienced in RECA claims can review your history and explain your options.

Important: All claims under this program are currently scheduled to expire on December 31, 2027. Time-sensitive action is required to preserve your rights.

Who May Be Eligible

To qualify for compensation under the Manhattan Project waste provisions of RECA, an individual must meet specific criteria established by federal law and administered by the U.S. Department of Justice:

• Geographic presence: The individual must have been physically present for at least two years after January 1, 1949, in one of the designated Tennessee ZIP codes affected by Manhattan Project waste contamination
• Covered illness: The individual must have been diagnosed with one of the specified cancers or diseases recognized under the statute
• Timely filing: The claim must be filed before the program’s current expiration date of December 31, 2027

Tennessee ZIP Codes Covered by the Manhattan Project Waste Expansion

The following Tennessee ZIP codes are designated as eligible areas under the 2025 RECA expansion:

Table 1: Tennessee ZIP codes eligible under Manhattan Project waste provisions

These ZIP codes primarily cover communities in the Oak Ridge area and surrounding regions of East Tennessee that were exposed to radioactive contamination from Manhattan Project activities.

Covered Illnesses

Federal law specifies the cancers and diseases that qualify for compensation under the Manhattan Project waste provisions. These include:

• Leukemia (if initial exposure occurred after age 20)
• Lymphomas (other than Hodgkin’s disease)
• Multiple myeloma
• Primary cancers of the:
  • Thyroid
  • Male or female breast
  • Esophagus
  • Stomach
  • Pharynx
  • Small intestine
  • Pancreas
  • Bile ducts
  • Gallbladder
  • Salivary gland
  • Urinary bladder
  • Brain
  • Colon
  • Ovary
  • Liver (except if cirrhosis or Hepatitis B is indicated)
  • Lung
  • Bone
  • Kidney (renal)

The specific medical and diagnostic criteria are established by the U.S. Department of Justice and may be subject to documentation requirements.

Compensation Amounts

The compensation available under the Manhattan Project waste provisions varies depending on whether the affected individual is living or deceased at the time the claim is filed:

• Living claimants: Eligible individuals may receive $50,000 or the total of their unreimbursed medical expenses related to the covered illness, whichever is greater.
• Deceased claimants (survivors): If the affected individual has passed away, eligible survivors may receive $25,000, divided among the spouse (if living) and children.

These are one-time, lump-sum payments that do not require repayment.

How McLaughlin Legal Can Help

McLaughlin Legal is a Tennessee-based law firm in Knoxville focused on federal occupational environmental exposure programs. Our Knoxville RECA lawyer has represented nearly 2,000 individuals under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA), a related Department of Labor program that compensates workers exposed to radiation and toxic substances at Department of Energy facilities, including Oak Ridge. That experience positions an attorney in Knoxville, Tennessee, experienced in helping East Tennessee families pursue Manhattan Waste RECA claims.

We are now assisting individuals and survivors with Manhattan Project waste claims under RECA. Our services include:

• Evaluating whether you meet the geographic, medical, and timing requirements for a RECA claim
• Gathering and organizing medical records, residency documentation, and other supporting evidence
• Preparing and filing your claim with the U.S. Department of Justice
• Communicating with federal officials on your behalf throughout the claims process
• Advocating for your rights if additional information or documentation is requested