JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Today, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey announced that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has heeded his call to update the signage around Coldwater Creek, where for decades, Missourians have been subjected to toxic waste dumped by their own federal government. The Army Corps of Engineers recently confirmed their intent to place new signs in the area in November.
“This is a huge step forward for Missourians who have been poisoned by their own government. Now, Congress must follow Senator Hawley’s lead and pass his RECA legislation that would compensate victims of radiation poisoning,” said Attorney General Bailey. “My office will continue to work with Senator Hawley and other partners to ensure the safety of all Missourians near Coldwater Creek.”
In their response to Attorney General Bailey, the Army Corps of Engineers stated that they have “coordinated closely with the elected officials and concerned citizens of the communities that are impacted by the residual contamination in North St. Louis County. This effort was essential in refining the proposed signage to address their expressed desires and meet our governing regulations.”
Their response also included the new signage that they believe “meets the community’s needs and provides the highest level of transparency and protection balanced with existing regulations.”
Excess uranium that was part of the United States’ efforts to build the atomic bomb was dumped, both in barrels and onto the ground, next to Coldwater Creek during World War II. This uranium waste has exposed residents to dangerous chemicals for decades. Officials were aware at the time that the waste could escape decaying barrels and enter the creek, putting citizens in harm’s way of toxins that can cause serious injury or even death. The waste now has escaped and infiltrated the creek; yet, the signage in the area has failed to adequately warn area residents of the issue.
Attorney General Bailey took action. In his original letter, his office demanded that the federal government take corrective action immediately, as the current signage did not meet legal requirements and did not adequately warn citizens of the hazardous dangers left behind from World War II. In addition to supporting Senator Josh Hawley’s federal RECA legislation that would compensate victims of radiation poisoning, he has requested documents from the Biden-Harris Administration’s Department of Energy.
Attorney General Bailey’s original letter can be viewed here.
The Army Corps of Engineers’ response containing the new signage can be viewed here.