A federal agency is conducting soil testing beneath homes in a Florissant subdivision near Coldwater Creek in St. Louis to determine if residents are living on top of Cold War era nuclear contamination. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is currently taking soil samples at six properties in the area after contamination was found in the backyards of these homes. Preliminary results of the testing are expected to be available by the end of the week.
If contamination is discovered beneath the homes, remediation efforts will be undertaken, although the specifics of the remediation process are yet to be determined. The Corps of Engineers does not believe that additional homes in the vicinity need to be tested, a stance that is being challenged by activists from Just Moms STL, who advocate for broader testing in the area.
The testing is focused on determining if fill dirt used during the construction of the Cades Cove subdivision is contaminated. The subdivision was built over 30 years ago, and concerns have been raised about potential health risks associated with living near nuclear waste sites in the St. Louis region.
The St. Louis area has a history of uranium processing that played a significant role in the development of nuclear weapons during World War II and the Cold War. However, decades later, the region is still grappling with contamination at various sites, including Coldwater Creek.
In recent years, worries about contamination from the creek have led to the closure of a Florissant grade school, and there have been concerns about health risks and illnesses in the community. Efforts are underway to address these issues, with lawmakers like Sen. Josh Hawley and U.S. Rep. Cori Bush advocating for compensation for individuals whose illnesses may be linked to radiation exposure.
The investigation into potential nuclear contamination in the St. Louis subdivision has raised questions about the timeline of testing and remediation efforts, with calls for more transparency and accountability from government agencies. The safety and well-being of residents remain a top priority as further testing and remediation actions are considered.
As the community awaits more information on the soil testing results, the issue of nuclear contamination in the St. Louis region continues to be a matter of concern and debate among residents, activists, and lawmakers.
