Federal government shakeup raises questions about future of West Lake and Coldwater Creek clean ups
First Alert 4 checks in on promises of official visits and resident concerns about proposed changes to budget and staff
ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) - The story of Coldwater Creek and West Lake Landfill stretches over decades and multiple presidential istrations. Under the current istration, a number of changes have been made to federal departments — including the Environmental Protection Agency — raising questions about how EPA superfund sites in St. Louis could be affected.
As First Alert 4 previously reported, Senator Josh Hawley announced last month he had an agreement with the new head of the EPA to visit St. Louis and see the irradiated sites.
The EPA has been working on contamination plans and the Superfund site for decades. West Lake has ties to the Manhattan Project and the nuclear program of the Second World War.
On X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, the senator stated that Lee Zeldin “pledged to me he would finally start EPA’s cleanup of the West Lake Landfill,” and continued to say Zeldin would “stop the EPA’s constant lies to the public about the radiation there.”
As of press time Friday, First Alert 4 had reached out to Missouri Senator Eric Schmitt for comment, as well as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, but did not receive a response.
Rep. Wesley Bell’s office says he is watching the situation closely.
EPA Region Five, which covers the Show Me State, did respond to a request for comment. Telling First Alert 4 they are committed to providing oversight to superfund sites, and pointed those with questions to the USACE website for the St. Louis Formally Utilized Site Remedial Action Program (FUSRAP) Sites. At https://www.mvs.usace.army.mil/Missions/FUSRAP/.
Also, EPA Region Seven included an update to the West Lake site.
Avery Martinez covers water, ag & the environment for First Alert 4. He is also a Report for America corps member, as well as a member of the Mississippi River Basin Ag & Water Desk. His coverage goes from corn farms to hunting concerns, and local water rates to rancher mental health.
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