Missouri Residents Call for Faster Cleanup of Toxic Sites Due to Lengthy Delays

Residents and lawmakers in Missouri are calling for faster cleanup at several toxic sites in St. Louis due to lengthy delays in remediation efforts. Dawn Chapman and Karen Nickel from Just Moms STL advocate for the clean-up of contaminated locations, including West Lake Landfill where a superfund site was designated as far back as 1990. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been providing updates on cleanup progress through social media but admitted it does not have a clear timeline due to the complexity of the work involved. Nearby Coldwater Creek extends over several miles, contaminating some locations where residents claim to experience illness and cancer diagnoses. Missouri State Rep. Chantelle Nickson-Clark is representing this area after growing up near Coldwater Creek herself; she recently hosted a town hall meeting for constituents affected by the pollution. The Army Corps of Engineers has estimated that cleanup efforts could take until 2038, with some critics claiming errors and mistakes in characterizing radioactive waste have contributed to delays. Senator Josh Hawley called this timeline unacceptable as contamination from Coldwater Creek has existed since at least the 1950s. However, U.S Army Corps of Engineers Program Manager Phil Moser stated that due to the extent and amount involved in investigations and remediation, an overall process takes significant time. Hawley suggested this issue requires immediate action rather than continuous delaying tactics from agencies responsible for cleanup efforts at these sites.