FLORISSANT, Mo. – The owners of six homes in Florissant are likely to be offered buyouts due to radioactive contamination.

City officials have been made aware of a potential planned buyout of six homes in Florissant’s Cades Cove subdivision, according to a statement from Florissant Mayor Timothy Lowery.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers previously told city officials that six homes are currently the only area of concern, according to the mayor’s office.

According to FOX 2’s news partners at the St. Louis Post Dispatch, federal officials have cited concerns about radioactive waste below the backyards of six properties.

Removing the homes is likely necessary because of the contaminated soil lies close to and may impact the foundations.

Homeowners are in the process of gathering necessary paperwork. The federal government hasn’t made any offers just yet.

Over the last few years, national reports have surfaced suggesting that the federal government downplayed and failed to fully investigate the risks of nuclear waste contamination that stemmed from the Manhattan Project, a World War II-era uranium production effort that occurred in the St. Louis region.

When leftover nuclear waste was later disposed, it found way into Coldwater Creek, a 19-mile tributary of the Missouri River that runs through neighborhoods, schools, and parks.

On Friday, Missouri U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley – a longtime advocate for cleanup of radioactive waste in the St. Louis area – sent a letter to Lieutenant General William H. Graham, Jr. of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, calling for accountability.

The letter raises concerns about the scope of radioactive contamination along nearby Coldwater Creek and questions why only the Cades Code subdivision is being considered for buyouts.

“It should come as no surprise that the community is extremely concerned about proposals for residential buyouts after USACE previously downplayed the potential risks,” said Hawley in the letter.

Meanwhile, a statement sent to FOX 2 on the potential buyouts from the Florissant Mayor’s Office, in part, includes the following:

“For decades, both the city and our residents have received inconsistent and at times conflicting information regarding contamination, flood mitigation plans, and potential buyouts. This prolonged lack of clarity has contributed to confusion, frustration, and a sense of mistrust among those impacted. Promises of transparency, timely updates, and genuine engagement have not always been upheld, and our community deserves better moving forward.

“We are actively seeking more information about the scope and timeline of the potential buyout and are committed to working closely with all involved agencies to ensure that impacted families have the resources, information, and support they need during this process.”

“Florissant will continue to advocate for a fair, transparent, and consistent approach moving forward. We will share updates with the community as they become available, and we will not hesitate to hold the responsible agencies accountable for delivering clear and honest communication.”

Any residents with concerns or questions are encouraged to contact Florissant City Hall directly at 314-921-5700.