Faster cleanup of St. Louis' toxic sites is demanded by lawmakers and residents.

Several toxic sites in the St. Louis area are being called for faster cleanup by some Missouri residents and lawmakers.

"Dawn Chapman, co-founder of Just Moms STL, expressed her frustration with federal agencies in an interview with Planet Chronicle. She stated that the agencies always made her feel like she was being gaslit, particularly through their nonchalant responses to questions. Chapman believes that the agencies should have taken action to clean the creek before any harm was caused, but for an unknown reason, they chose not to."

Karen Nickel and Chapman founded a group that advocates for the cleanup of contaminated sites in St. Louis.

"Nickel stated that we have conversed with numerous individuals residing near West Lake Landfill, who are located less than half a mile away. Since the construction of those homes in the late '50s, the residents were unaware of the presence of a landfill in their vicinity."

When Nickel and Chapman purchased their homes, they were unaware that the landfill nearby was a superfund site.

"When I bought my house, I had no idea what that was and was taken aback," Chapman stated.

The EPA is using social media to share updates on cleanups and make information available online.

Bob Jurgens, EPA Region 7 Superfund and Emergency Management Division Director, stated that there are some activists and community members in the area who are strong and always willing to provide information. He added that the EPA has tried to strengthen its relationship with key community members, and he believes it is paying off.

In 1990, the EPA included the West Lake Landfill on its national priorities list, which is part of its Superfund sites program. This list identifies hazardous waste sites in the country that are eligible for federal funding to cover the costs of extensive, long-term cleanup actions.

Jurgens acknowledged the lengthy nature of the Superfund process and understood the concerns of those affected.

In 2006, the EPA proposed a plan for remediation. Following a public comment period, the agency made changes to its plan and released a new Record of Decision in 2008.

"Jurgens stated that the amendment to the 2018 completion was based on community feedback. Since then, there has been continuous work with the responsible parties to assess, design remedial solutions, and finally implement the changes."

After nearly 35 years, residents contend that the Superfund site designation process should have progressed more.

"Although we're informed that we're near achieving it, we're facing a deadline," Chapman stated.

The EPA acknowledged that it lacked a definitive timeline for the complete remediation of the West Lake Landfill.

Jurgens stated that we lack a timeline for the project, making it challenging to estimate its duration. Despite this, we have made significant progress with the responsible parties in conducting a comprehensive assessment.

Nearly a decade ago, a fire began burning at the site, and the EPA admitted that they were unaware of its origin.

"Jurgens stated that landfill fires are not uncommon and that putting out a fire once it has gone underground can be challenging. However, he added that the actions taken at the site to address the issue have been commendable."

Officials stated that there is no danger to residents in the vicinity as crews have put up a barrier to control the fire and prevent it from spreading to the radioactive waste.

Jurgens stated that the subsurface smoldering event is now in better shape than it was several years ago.

The lengthy cleanup happening today is a result of issues that have been reported in the past, according to Chapman and other residents in the area.

Both federal agencies responsible for radioactivity in the region have made significant errors and mistakes in characterizing it, according to Chapman.

In 1989, the two sites where toxic waste was stored after the Manhattan Project were added to the national priorities list. However, Coldwater Creek, which extends from those sites, was not included on the list. Locations along the creek where radioactivity has been found have since been listed under the storage sites.

Missouri State Rep. Chantelle Nickson-Clark stated, "This creek, which spans 14 miles across the county I represent, should undergo thorough testing in its entirety."

Nickson-Clark, a Democrat, is a two-time cancer survivor who grew up near Coldwater Creek. She recently hosted a town hall to hear the stories of others living there.

"Nickson-Clark stated that many constituents expressed their grief over losing loved ones and coping with the aftermath of the Coldwater Creek incident. "It's heartbreaking to see our community endure such effects," he said. "We know there are more stories to be shared.""

The estimated time frame for the Army Corps of Engineers to clean up the waterway is until 2038.

"Nickson-Clark stated, "By performing the calculations, we can see that we are currently 80 years into it. It's possible that some of us won't witness the aftermath in our lifetimes.""

The Army Corps of Engineers acknowledged that the process has been protracted, similar to the EPA's admission.

According to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers St. Louis District Program Manager Phil Moser, the process of coordination, investigation, documentation, and remediation required to address one area is extensive, which means it takes time to complete.

The cleanup timeline at both sites was deemed unacceptable by Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo.

"This is unacceptable. We must remember that this creek has been contaminated since the '50s, '60s, and now 2038. This brings us close to the century mark. It's time for action, and everyone should be involved," Hawley stated. "They need to stop delaying the issue and take immediate action."

The Army Corps of Engineers has been collecting samples from Coldwater Creek's 14-mile stretch, which includes 756 properties such as homes, commercial areas, and recreational sites. They are testing for uranium, radium, and thorium, among other contaminants.

"In 1998, when the Army Corps took control, the extent was not fully known, according to Moser. By 2012, it was realized that more extensive sampling was required in Coldwater Creek."

The agency's new maps revealed locations with contaminated soil, as well as areas where crews were collecting samples and those that had been tested and deemed safe.

"Nickel stated that there is more waste than what is being reported by the Army Corps, and he believes it may be due to a lack of transparency or truthfulness on their part."

Jana Elementary School is situated near Coldwater Creek, which shut down in 2022 due to the discovery of thorium, a cancer-linked element, on the property.

"We knew where Jana Elementary School was located along the creek, and it turned out to be a nightmare come true for us," Chapman stated.

Ashley Bernaugh is a member of the Just Moms STL group and was the PTA president at Jana Elementary, where her son attended. She has been requesting testing and documents from the Army Corps of Engineers for several years.

Bernaugh stated that since 2018, the Army Corps of Engineers and the Department of Energy have not responded to his inquiries despite their efforts to conduct thorough research.

The agency tested both inside and outside the school and concluded that the contamination was due to background radiation, according to Moser.

Moser stated that the school was deemed safe from a radiological perspective, and he confirmed that this conclusion still holds true, as does the verification of federal agencies who reviewed the documentation.

Advocates, including Bernaugh, argued that the samples weren't sufficient. Eventually, an external company was brought in to collect samples from the school grounds.

According to Bernaugh, the Boston Chemical Company was able to analyze dust samples and discovered thorium 230, a metallic form of thorium used in radioactive bomb waste from early weapons development in St. Louis.

The Army Corps of Engineers discovered high levels of thorium near the creek, but not in all areas.

The Army Corps of Engineers is remediating the banks of the creek because it meets their threshold for radioactive waste cleanup, according to Bernaugh.

The Army Corps has been collecting soil samples from homes near Coldwater Creek due to contamination on the properties.

"Missourians have been affected by radioactive contamination under their basements near the creek, according to Hawley. Despite their efforts, the government has not made it right, cleaned up the landfills, or compensated those who have become ill."