‘Downwinders Clinic’ will host free meetings across Utah for RECA-eligible families  

The Intermountain Health’s Downwinders Clinic will host meetings to help inform those who may qualify for the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, also known as RECA. Now that more Utah regions are eligible for payment, the clinic is making stops across the state, including some cities in the north. 

The RECA compensation is a $100,000 one-time payment for eligible “downwinders,” people who developed serious illnesses from nuclear weapons testing in Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Idaho and New Mexico. The public information meetings are scheduled in late July and early August in St. George, Provo, Salt Lake City, Logan and Ogden. 

The clinic will have applications and information available during the meetings, with discussions about the compensation process and the online portal, according to a news release from Intermountain Health.

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“This is a free service. Come receive information regarding what new areas now qualify to apply for the RECA compensation as well as the new increased compensation amount,” the release says.

Utah residents and their families — who may apply for the payment on behalf of an eligible person who has died — are encouraged to attend to have their questions answered. Intermountain Health will also offer application reviews, but only by appointment. Scheduling is available by phone at 435-251-4760.

RECA has undergone expansion recently after a 2024 gap when Congress failed to reauthorize the program. However, under Congress’ spending package, downwinders who were recently diagnosed with serious illnesses, like cancer, or those who hadn’t applied for the program, can make claims. 

The program’s scope is broader than what was previously allowed. All of Utah is considered an affected area, meaning someone who lived in the Beehive State for a period of 12 months between 1951 to 1962, and contracted a certain type of cancer, is likely eligible for compensation. Before the expansion residents in just 10 counties in Utah were eligible for RECA, despite evidence fallout from the testing impacted the whole state.

Now, a bipartisan group of lawmakers is also working on amending the program to include individuals from all of Montana, Arizona, Colorado, Guam and Nevada, and to extend the application period which is now set to end on Dec. 31, 2027. 

While the claim amounts have been increased, those who have already received RECA indemnification do not qualify to receive additional payments,