ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. – The Environmental Protection Agency is looking to expedite the cleanup of nuclear waste left over from the Manhattan Project. Families impacted by the West Lake Landfill said they are thrilled to see the new timeline of the cleanup.
“This gives our community some hope. A lot of people really kind of lost that hope not seeing any action, always hearing delay, delay, delay,” Karen Nickel, co-founder of Just Moms STL, said.
Nickel said last month’s visit from new EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin was the push the community needed.
“This was one of the most powerful, heartbreaking communities that he’s had to listen to, and it is devastating,” she said.
The timeline said the cleanup plan will be submitted in October. Dawn Chapman said the plan includes feedback from families impacted.
“They’ve taken a lot of the stuff that we’ve had to say into consideration and put it in there and that means a lot,” she said. “So, the community will have had a very strong voice in the making of the plan and how they do this.”
Another key piece of the plan is the consent decree, which said the EPA’s goal is to reach the agreement with the party responsible. If they can’t reach an agreement, the EPA can force them.
“Really, what that comes down to is EPA will come in, the work will start, and then they’ll charge time three whatever the price tag is. So, that is a boot on the neck of the Department of Energy, who made this mess,” Chapman said.
Senator Josh Hawley said he is working to get another tour soon with the Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
“Anytime that you can get an agency or a cabinet member to come in and look at your community and see the devastation and agree with the devastation, it is powerful for this community,” said Nickel.