Thousands claim LANL caused cancer

SANTA FE (KRQE) - When the legislative session began in January, House Speaker Ben Lujan dropped a bombshell. He revealed that he has cancer and is blaming it on his work at Los Alamos National Lab. 

Thousands of people are making the same claim and the payout is now in the millions of dollars.

The 76 year-old long time Speaker of the House told fellow lawmakers and the public he'd been battling cancer since 2009.  He believes it may have been caused by exposure to asbestos while he worked at the lab.

Lujan is far from alone in that claim. 

"We certainly are sad to hear of the speakers situation with cancer because it's a really awful thing to go through," said Joseph Roybal.

Roybal's family and Lujan have a lot in common.  His mother went to school with the Speaker, and his father worked at LANL. Like Lujan, Roybal's father had cancer.  Joseph's father died 7 months ago.

Now the Roybals are one of 10,000 former LANL employees or their family members who have filed a claim with the federal government seeking financial compensation. About  12 years ago the feds passed a law that pays restitution to those who became seriously ill working at nuclear facilities. 

Roybal says he had no idea the Speaker was battling cancer even as he was helping guide Roybal and other families in their fight for compensation. 

So far the government has paid more than $285 million to LANL employees and their families.

Ben Lujan declined an interview with News 13 so we do not know if he too is seeking financial compensation.

A LANL spokesperson says Lujan has never contacted the lab regarding  his illness.