Several moms in suburban St. Louis, including Karen Nickel and Dawn Chapman, have been working to clean up toxic sites in the area that have been contaminated for decades, with some of the contamination being covered up by government officials. Nickel and Chapman formed the group Just Moms STL in 2013, after uncovering information that those responsible for disposing of toxic waste likely mishandled chemicals from the Manhattan Project. Senator Josh Hawley is pushing for legislation that would provide compensation to individuals who may have been sickened by the chemicals in St. Louis and other areas. The group has been working tirelessly to bring attention to the issue and ensure that cleanup efforts move faster.
The internal documents revealed that Mallinckrodt Chemical Works, a company hired by the U.S. government to process chemicals for nuclear weapons, had mishandled and stored the waste in unsafe conditions near Coldwater Creek in St. Louis. The chemicals were known to be extremely toxic, with workers warned not to touch them, and concerns were raised about the potential leakage of chemicals into the creek. Flooding events over the years have further complicated the cleanup process, as contaminants were carried downstream and deposited in various areas. Despite efforts by the Army Corps of Engineers to address the contamination, advocates believe that the cleanup could be expedited in order to protect the health and safety of residents in the affected areas.
The contamination in St. Louis dates back to the Manhattan Project era, with testing from almost 50 years ago indicating possible contamination in parts of Coldwater Creek. The waste was eventually moved to West Lake Landfill in Bridgeton, Missouri, where it has been sitting for decades. Residents in the surrounding neighborhoods, including Chapman, Nickel, and thousands of others, have called for action to address the issue and ensure that cleanup efforts are completed as quickly as possible. It is believed that the cleanup efforts should have been undertaken much earlier, and advocates are adamant about ensuring that the government takes responsibility for the health and safety of those affected by the contamination.
Senator Hawley is advocating for an extension and expansion of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, which would provide compensation to individuals who were exposed to toxic chemicals from the Manhattan Project. The documents obtained by the group revealed the extent of the government’s knowledge of the contamination and the health risks associated with it, dating back several decades. The group has been working to raise awareness about the issue and push for accountability from government officials who were involved in the mishandling and cover-up of the toxic waste. Efforts to clean up the contaminated sites have been ongoing, but advocates believe more needs to be done to ensure the safety and well-being of residents in the affected areas.
Environmentalists have called on the Biden administration to halt a natural gas project amid concerns about the environmental impact, while the White House Eco Council is divided over the technology central to Biden’s green goals. The situation in St. Louis serves as a reminder of the long-lasting effects of mishandling toxic waste and the importance of holding those responsible accountable for the cleanup efforts. The efforts of advocates like Chapman, Nickel, and others have shed light on the extent of the contamination and the health risks associated with it, prompting calls for swift action to address the issue and protect the communities impacted by the toxic waste.
