BRIDGETON, MO (KTVI) – Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster is taking steps to get answers about the “Westlake landfill” site in Bridgeton. Residents have serious concerns about radioactive material that was dumped at the landfill during the 1970’s.
Koster sent a letter to the EPA asking for testing of the routes used.
Koster EPA Letter for radiological survey of Westlake landfill
Koster also filed a motion with the St. Louis County Circuit Court asking the court to set a date in its lawsuit against landfill owner, Republic Services.
An Environmental Protection Agency spokesperson responded to Koster’s late Tuesday afternoon, with the following response, “EPA appreciates Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster’s recommendation that testing for radiological material be conducted outside the boundary of the West Lake Landfill Superfund Site. This agency continues to work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to provide oversight of the development of the work plans for the responsible parties’ construction of the Isolation Barrier and the EPA’s selection of a long-term remedy for the site. All validated information available to the state of Missouri and EPA indicates the radiologically-impacted material remains confined to the site and that the site is currently protective of public health. As the EPA continues developing our work plans we’ll assess all available data and make determinations that will address any remaining testing requirements.”
Richard Callow, a spokesperson for the Bridgeton Landfill, LLC has this response:
“We note again for the record that our Company’s involvement in this matter is that in 2008 we acquired the successor to the company that operated West Lake Landfill as part of the purchase of a larger competitor. We remain committed to the safety of the community and of our employees.”
Callow also noted that the routes have, in fact, been tested in the past for radioactive material, as published on page 32 of the North County Record of Decision.
