Toxic Sites in St. Louis: Residents and Lawmakers Demand Swifter Cleanup
Missouri residents and lawmakers are calling for a more rapid and effective cleanup of multiple toxic sites in the St. Louis region, where radioactive waste has been present for decades and has allegedly caused health issues.
Concerns Over Delayed Cleanup
“We feel gaslit by the federal agencies responsible,” said Dawn Chapman, co-founder of the advocacy group Just Moms STL. “They should have addressed this before any construction and cleaned the creek. They had the chance to prevent the harm we’re now seeing, but they chose not to.”
Chapman and her neighbor Karen Nickel have been working to raise awareness about the issue and demand a faster cleanup. They claim that residents living near West Lake Landfill and Coldwater Creek were unaware of the hazardous materials when they purchased their homes and built their lives there.
Historical Contamination
The two sites were used for storage of radioactive waste after the Manhattan Project in the 1940s and 1950s. They were added to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) national priorities list of Superfund sites in 1990, which identifies the most hazardous waste sites in the country.
Despite being on the list for 35 years, residents argue that the cleanup has been far too slow. The Army Corps of Engineers, the lead agency responsible for the cleanup, has estimated that it could take until 2038.
Health Impacts and Lack of Transparency
Residents living near the sites have expressed concerns about the potential health risks posed by the radioactive waste, citing an increase in cancer rates and other illnesses. They also allege that the federal agencies responsible for the cleanup have not been transparent or forthcoming with information.
“It’s hard to tell because it’s not been a very trusting relationship with that agency over the years,” said Nickel, referring to the Army Corps of Engineers.
Federal Response and Accountability
Lawmakers, including Senator Josh Hawley, have voiced their dissatisfaction with the slow pace of the cleanup and have called for increased accountability.
“This is outrageous,” Hawley said. “We will be getting close to the century mark. They should quit kicking the can down the road. This ought to be an all-hands-on-deck effort.”
The EPA has admitted that it does not have a firm schedule for the completion of the cleanup, while the Army Corps of Engineers has stated that the process is complex and time-consuming.
Residents and advocates remain skeptical, urging the federal agencies to accelerate the cleanup timeline and provide more transparency. They demand that the government take responsibility for the contamination and compensate those who have been affected.
Ongoing Investigation and Future Plans
The Army Corps of Engineers has been conducting soil sampling and testing along Coldwater Creek, which flows through the affected area. The agency has found elevated levels of thorium in certain locations, and is currently remediating areas that meet its cleanup criteria.
Advocates, however, argue that the cleanup threshold is too low and that more needs to be done to protect the health of residents. They are urging for a more thorough and comprehensive cleanup, including the removal of all radioactive waste and soil.
The cleanup of the toxic sites in St. Louis remains an ongoing process, with residents, lawmakers, and advocates working together to ensure a faster, more thorough, and transparent resolution.
Data sourced from: foxnews.com
