Waverly, Ohio. The Pike County General Health District is pressing Congress to extend Radiation Exposure Compensation Act eligibility to residents living near the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Piketon, saying the host community deserves the same consideration already granted to communities around similar facilities in Kentucky and Tennessee.
In a June 29, 2026, press release, the district called on U.S. Rep. Dave Taylor, whose district includes Pike County, to lead efforts for future RECA legislation and encouraged local residents to contact his Washington office in support.
The district noted that on July 4, 2025, Congress expanded RECA through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act to cover additional nuclear-impacted communities. This included areas surrounding the gaseous diffusion plants in Paducah, Kentucky, and Oak Ridge, Tennessee, along with other qualifying locations tied to Manhattan Project-era activities and downwind exposures.
Pike County, however, was not included despite serving as the longtime host community for the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant, known locally as PORTS.
“The people of Pike County supported our nation’s defense for decades through the work performed at PORTS,” said Matt Brewster, Health Commissioner for the Pike County General Health District. “Congress has recognized other communities that hosted gaseous diffusion facilities. We are simply asking for equal consideration for the families, businesses, farmers, students, and residents who have lived in the shadow of the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant.”
The plant, located in Piketon in south central Ohio’s Pike County, operated from the 1950s into the early 2000s as a key site for uranium enrichment supporting national defense and commercial nuclear needs. It is now in environmental cleanup under Department of Energy oversight. Former workers at PORTS and the other gaseous diffusion plants have had access to compensation programs such as the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act. Community members living nearby have generally not had equivalent opportunities under RECA, even as federal recognition has grown that radiation exposure can extend beyond facility boundaries.
The district described the issue as timely because Congress continues to consider additional RECA amendments. It pointed to legislation advanced by Rep. James Moylan of Guam as evidence that lawmakers remain open to expanding the law when presented with strong cases.
The Pike County General Health District is asking Rep. Taylor to work with Ohio’s congressional delegation on legislation that would extend RECA eligibility to communities surrounding the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant. Residents are encouraged to respectfully contact Taylor’s Washington office and request that he become a leading advocate for Pike County on this matter.
Residents are encouraged to ask Congressman Taylor to:
• Support legislation extending RECA eligibility to community members living in and around the emergency planning zone at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant.
• Work with members of Congress to ensure Pike County is included in future RECA legislation.
• Support continued environmental monitoring, health research, and federal accountability regarding the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant.
Taylor’s Washington office can be reached at 202-225-3164.
The district has also released a comprehensive official statement with additional background on the issue, the history of the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant, and the case for equal treatment under RECA. Details are available through the Pike County General Health District.
This push comes as the region continues its transition from Cold War-era nuclear operations toward new energy and technology development at the PORTS site. The district’s call focuses on ensuring that long-term community impacts receive the same federal attention already extended to comparable sites elsewhere.
For more information, contact the Pike County General Health District at 740-947-7721 or visit pike-health.org.
