JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – New documents obtained through watchdog journalism by a coalition of media outlets has revealed that the federal government and companies responsible for nuclear bomb production and atomic waste sites in the St. Louis and St. Charles region were aware of the health risks and threat to people living near the site for decades.
New reports from a collaboration of journalists from six media outlets revealed on Wednesday, July 12th, that details concerning the classified nuclear program were kept secret from the public, and that the private companies and federal government knew radiological contamination was spreading in the area dating back to the 1950’s before the public were made aware but wrote it off as slight, low-level, or minimal risks.
State Rep. Tricia Byrnes, alongside State Rep. Doug Clemens, State Rep. Richard West, St. Charles County Councilman Joe Brazil, and members of the community will hold a press conference to address this dangerous situation and call on Missouri’s leaders, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the federal government to do the right thing and work to resolve these issues once and for all. The press conference is scheduled to be held at:
- Where: The Department of Energy’s Weldon Spring Site Interpretive Center,
7295 MO-94, St Charles, MO 63304 - When: Thursday, July 13, 2023
- Time: 12 p.m.
“The federal government knew that these sites caused cancer and has cost lives, and these documents show that they have known about these issues for decades,” Byrnes, R-Wentzville, said. “It’s time that our government owns up to its shortcomings and start taking the steps to ensure the safety and wellbeing of each citizen, and to determine long-term solutions that works for the people.”
“From downtown St. Louis to my backyard, the Department of Energy’s lack of diligence has destroyed families and lives. They should be held accountable for their waste and the harm it has caused,” Rep. Doug Clemens, D-St. Ann, said.
“Today, we found out they knew all along people were being harmed,” Rep. Richard West, Wentzville, said.
“These documents are all the proof I need to validate that I am sick,” Karen Nickel of Just Moms STL said. “For the past 11 years I have been labeled as a crazy hysterical mom. To this day, we are being told by the agency cleaning up these radioactive materials they are ‘safe in its current configuration’ but after reading these documents, are they?”
“These documents prove that the federal government knew for decades the radioactive waste was spreading throughout the community and actively chose not to warn the public,” Christen Commuso from the Missouri Coalition for the Environment said. “The EPA called Coldwater Creek one of the most polluted waterways in the U.S. 42 years ago, yet to this day, children can easily access the creek. It’s in our backyards, our schools, our parks. It is unacceptable that we are being asked to wait another day before this is cleaned up, much less another 20 years or more. The MCE, along with our partners, will continue to push for signage, limited access, and expedited cleanup.”
Byrnes has fought for the victims of radioactive waste since 2018, and has repeatedly called on the government to establish more monitoring and remediation, and work toward compensation for the victims of these hazardous materials by expanding programs already in place for workers. In her first term as a state legislator, Byrnes sponsored legislation regarding these issues, which passed the Missouri House of Representatives with a unanimous vote. She continues to monitor the cleanup and takes calls from sick students and residents surrounding the Weldon Spring site, and appreciates journalists’ dedication to continued coverage and reporting to uncover the dangers and inform the citizens about these matters surrounding hazardous waste in the area.