EPA to conduct further testing at Superfund landfill site

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recently announced it will continue to test for radioactive contamination at a Superfund site in Bridgeton, Missouri, a report by St. Louis Public Radio says. Residents around the West Lake Landfill site have been concerned that contamination at the site has damaged their health.

Albert Kelly, senior adviser to EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt and head of the EPA Superfund Task Force, says in the report that sampling of an area known as Operating Unit 2 will occur within the next 90 days. Operating Unit 2 is located on the western part of the site.

EPA says previous data based on aerial photographs has shown the movement of the contamination on-site and is sure that they know the extent of the hazard. The report says EPA previously announced it was done testing on-site, but will continue test to assure residents they are safe.

Residents have complained in the past that the contaminated site caused cancer and autoimmune diseases in the surrounded areas and have insisted that federal officials conduct further tests.

According to the report, the West Lake Landfill has been on the EPA National Priorities List since 1990. The radioactive waste from the World War II era is buried 600 feet away from a smoldering fire under the neighboring Bridgeton Landfill.