Testimony issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "In 1988, radioactive contamination was found in the drinking water wells of residences located near the federal government's uranium enrichment plant in Paducah, Kentucky, which is still in operation. In response, the Department of Energy (DOE) began a cleanup program to identify and remove contamination in the groundwater, surface water, and soil located within and outside the plant. In 2000, GAO reported that DOE faced significant challenges in cleaning up the site and that it was doubtful that the cleanup would be completed as scheduled by 2010, and within the $1.3 billion cost projection. GAO was asked to testify on (1) how much DOE has spent on the Paducah cleanup and for what purposes, and the estimated total future costs for the site; (2) the status of DOE's cleanup effort; and (3) the challenges DOE faces in completing the cleanup. This testimony is based on ongoing work, and GAO expects to issue a final report on this work in April 2004."

Testimony issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "The Department of Energy (Energy) and its predecessor agencies and contractors have employed thousands of workers in the nuclear weapons production complex. Some employees were exposed to toxic substances, including radioactive and hazardous materials, during this work and many subsequently developed illnesses. Subtitle D of the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act of 2000 allows Energy to help its contractor employees file state workers' compensation claims for illnesses determined by a panel of physicians to be caused by exposure to toxic substances in the course of employment at an Energy facility. Energy began accepting applications under this program in July 2001, but did not begin processing them until its final regulations became effective on September 13, 2002. The Congress mandated that GAO study the effectiveness of the benefit program under Subtitle D of this Act. This testimony is based on GAO's ongoing work on this issue and focuses on three key areas: (1) the number, status, and characteristics of claims filed with Energy; (2) the extent to which there will be a "willing payer" of workers' compensation benefits, that is, an insurer who--by order from, or agreement …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Charlie Boswell. After boot training in San Diego, he was assigned to the USS Tennessee in April 1941. The Tennessee was at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 tied up on the inside of the USS West Virginia, next to the pier. Boswell's battle station was as an ammunition handler on one of the 5-inch guns. He went down there and stayed there all day, sending up rounds. Boswell states that the Tennessee took two bombs hits. After about seven or eight days and they had blasted the big concrete pillars to give the Tennessee enough room to get out, they went to Bremerton, Washington along with the USS Pennsylvania and USS Maryland. After repairs, the Tennessee operated out of San Francisco. In September 1942, the Tennessee put back into Bremerton for additional work. Boswell was transferred to the Brooklyn Navy Yard and the USS Waller (DD-466), a new Fletcher-class destroyer. The Waller sailed through the Panama Canal and ended up in the Solomon Islands, around Guadalcanal, where they joined up with four cruisers and four other destroyers. They operated out of an island called Tonagawa for two …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Richard Cunningham. Cunningham joined the Navy in 1940 and, after training, was assigned to the USS West Virginia (BB-48) at Bremerton, Washington. At tehe time, the ship was in drydock being updated with armor plating and more guns. Cunningham was aboard when the fleet was moved from California to Hawaii. He shares his experiences he had during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Cunningham was in a captain's gig headed for the landing in the Southeast Lock when the attack commenced. He describes seeing torpedo bombers just above his head as they attacked. Cunningham and crew soon began picking up survivors from the water in their boat. For the next two days, Cunningham assisted infighting fires aboard the USS Arizona (BB-39). Later, Cunningham was assigned to the USS APc-35 that went to Guadalcanal. En route, they picked up a unit of Fiji Islanders and dropped them off on Guadalcanal for a covert mission. His vessel became grounded on a reef and was abandoned. He was then assigned to another inter-island transport vessel, the USS APc-33.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jack Brown. Born in 1919, he enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1941. He was sent to Pearl Harbor. He recounts his actions during the Japanese attack there. He was then assigned to the USS Indianapolis (CA-35). He describes his duties as the captain?s orderly. He talks about an encounter with fifteen Japanese twin-engine airplanes while escorting troop ships from the Coral Sea to Australia. He also discusses sinking Japanese supply ships in Alaska. After being hospitalized in San Francisco for tuberculosis, he joined the 1st Marine Division in Guadalcanal in late 1943. He shares an anecdote about the troops and quinine on Guadalcanal. He describes the Battle of Peleliu where he was a gun captain on a 105mm howitzer. When the war ended, he was transported on the USS Wharton (AP-7) to San Diego, California where Roy Rogers and Dale Evans greeted the troops with the song ?Happy Trails.? Shortly thereafter, he was discharged.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with J.C. Alston. Alston joined the Navy in August, 1941. He eventually reported aboard the USS California (BB-44) and served in the number 2 turret. Alston describes being present aboard the California when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. Afterwards, Alston stayed with the California repairing and refurbishing her. Alston was aboard for the in Leyte invasion in the Philippines and describes watching some of the action at Iwo Jima. Alston also speaks about life aboard the California during the war.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Frank Curre. Curre joined the Navy in June of 1941. Beginning in August, he served as Mess Cook aboard USS Tennessee (BB-43). They were moored in Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attacked. Through 1942, Curre served aboard a yard mine sweeper in Bremerton. He completed training on minesweeping gear. He traveled through the Caroline, Marshall and Gilbert islands. They swept around Bougainville, New Britain and New Georgia prior to invasions. They were stationed on Midway Island, where Curre remained through the end of the war. He was discharged in August of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Euell White. White entered the Marine Corps on 29 May 1941 and did his basic training in San Diego. His first assignment was on Midway Island where he manned 3-inch anti-aircraft guns. He was at Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941 in the Marine barracks, which looked down on battleship row. White talks about a Japanese aircraft that was shot down and ended up about 500 feet from the hospital near his barracks. He states that the pilot had a map that marked every battleship and aircraft carrier that was supposed to be in the harbor. White also talks about a two-man Japanese submarine in the bay during the attack; the sub had hit a sand bar. He also mentions guarding a tank farm two days after the attack. Two to three weeks after Pearl Harbor, White was put on a destroyer that was going to Wake Island but they received word that Wake was going to fall so they went to Johnston Island instead. At Johnston Island they pumped coral and built a runway. After leave back in the States, White went back to Hawaii and was …