Federal attention.  That's what area residents who say they are dealing with the effects of growing up near nuclear contamination and radioactive waste are struggling to get. Federal Political Attention But Dawn Chapman, a stay-at-home mom and resident-turned-advocate for change, said a few steps forward have been taken. Chapman, along with other residents with similar problems resulting from Coldwater Creek or West Lake Landfill, had an opportunity to Skype with Sen. Claire McCaskill's office. "A group of us went to her office in Delmar and took part in a video conference with two members of…

Local residents headed to Jefferson City, Wednesday, to testfy before a Senate committee on West Lake Landfill. The hearing is about a resolution Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal's urgeing the U.S. Congress to transfer authority for the remediation of the West Lake Landfill radioactive wastes from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' (USACE) Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program (FUSRAP). View the bill introduction here. On the West Lake Landfill Facebook group, residents that testified, along with supporters that traveled to Jefferson City, …

The James J. Eagan Community Center played host to a room of people who said they aren't giving up or backing down, Thursday night. "The federal government has poisoned us and it's their responsibility to take care of us," Kim Thone Visintine, who grew up in the area, said. She along with other North County residents, past and current, filled the gymnasium to listen to governmental agencies update remediation and other efforts related to radioactive waste dumped in the area and spread through Coldwater Creek, as well as groundwater. Some of those in attendance no longer live in the area. …

4-3-12 Update: The meeting scheduled for April 4 at  James J. Eagan Community Center in Florissant is canceled. ---------------- The legal teams working three lawsuits regarding Coldwater Creek contamination and the health impacts on North County residents, will be hosting two town hall-style meetings next week. The meetings are an effort to inform the public on the proceedings, and to let those who feel living, playing or working near the creek negatively impacted their  helath have options.  The meetings are slated for Wednesday and Thursday in Hazelwood and Florissant, respectively.  Each …

Cancer incidents in North St. Louis County are not linked to Coldwater Creek. That's what a report the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services released today says. State Health Department Investigation Last month, Patch told you the state would be analyzing cancer clusters in North County as the result of local concern of increased risk due to nuclear contamination. Gena Terlizzi with DHSS's Office of Public Information said local residents asked the department to look at instances. She also said the report only looks at Coldwater Creek and not any of the several dump sites that …

State and North County legislators turned out Friday for a call to action on Bridgeton's West Lake Landfill. The Missouri Coalition for the Environment, Missouri Jobs with Justice and Teamsters Local 618 banded together to put on a public briefing regarding the risks and hazards of the landfill. Ed Smith, safe energy director for the Missouri Coalition for the Environment, said a public meeting was needed when Republic Services, which owns the landfill, said everything was OK. “We’re all local, Republic is not,” Smith said following the session. “People are being fed misinformation (by …

Because of the growing concern with rare instances of cancer in North County near Coldwater Creek, the Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services (DHSS) has epidemiologists looking into cancer rates. The epidemiologists, which investigate the causes of disease and other public health problems to prevent them from spreading or from happening again, will look at figures from zip codes including 63031, 63033, 63034, 63042, 63134, 63138. Gena Terlizzi with DHSS Office of Public Information said the state will be working with the University of Missouri on the research. "DHSS and the Missouri …

There are three lawsuits alleging exposure to radioactive waste the Mallinckrodt chemical company produced, is the reason for the health issues. Federal Judge Audrey G. Fleissig of the US District Court–Eastern District of Missouri has appointed TorHoerman Law as lead legal counsel on the case. The lawsuits include groups of people from Hazelwood, Florissant, Spanish Lake, Berkeley, Ferguson, Black Jack and St. Ann. The residents say nuclear waste was improperly disposed of near North County's Coldwater Creek in the 1950's and 1960's as part of the Manhattan project. leading to an unusually …

Three lawsuits allege exposure to radioactive waste the Mallinckrodt chemical company produced is the reason for the health issues. One lawsuit filed in April 2012 includes a group of 16 people from Hazelwood, Florissant, Spanish Lake and St. Ann. According to the lawsuit, nuclear waste was dumped near Lambert Saint Louis International Airport and contaminated Coldwater Creek starting in the 1940s through the 1950s. The area is considered an Environmental Protection Agency Superfund site. Documents express the residents report contracting various breast, testicular, brain and pancreatic …

The Missouri Coalition for the Environment is holding a public meeting on the West Lake Landfill Superfund site, which is under the jurisdiction of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Army Corps of Engineers manages the cleanup of the Coldwater Creek Nuclear Contamination sites near Lambert-St. Louis International Airport and the outskirts of the City of Hazelwood. Ed Smith, safe energy director at Missouri Coalition for the Environment, said the organization is holding the meeting in response to the EPA’s "lack of meaningful public engagement on our region’s most risky radioactive…

North St. Louis County residents have filed a second lawsuit alleging that nuclear waste in Coldwater Creek, which is partially contained in the City of Hazelwood has caused their various illnesses including cancer, and for some death. About the Lawsuits Both lawsuits allege exposure to radioactive waste the Mallinckrodt chemical company produced, is the reason for the health issues. The second lawsuit includes a group of 16 people from Hazelwood, Florissant, Spanish Lake and St. Ann. According to the lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court on Tuesday, nuclear waste was dumped near Lambert Saint…

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