News Releases from Region 07

EPA Says Air Quality near West Lake Landfill Consistent with Greater St. Louis and Other Midwest Cities

Environmental News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Lenexa, Kan., Jan. 20, 2015) - EPA Region 7 released new data today that shows air quality around the West Lake Landfill Superfund Site in Bridgeton, Mo., is consistent with what is found elsewhere in the greater St. Louis metropolitan area, and in other major Midwest cities.

According to Agency experts, an air quality monitoring network with five stations operating for the past seven months around the landfill has been documenting baseline conditions that would be needed prior to any construction activities. The network has been monitoring for alpha, beta and gamma radiation as well as typical solid waste landfill gases, such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen sulfide.

For alpha and beta radiation, all monitored median values were consistent with median values for a reference air monitor placed away from the site in St. Charles. Gamma radiation monitors around West Lake Landfill showed values that were also consistent with the variability of natural geological radiation sources in the area.

"These efforts to monitor the air and conduct a thorough scientific analysis will help us monitor construction activities to keep them protective of protective of public health," EPA Region 7 Administrator Karl Brooks said. "The numbers are typical of what you would find in the environment elsewhere in St. Louis."

"The radiation levels being measured indicate there are no releases of hazardous contaminants from the landfill as the readings are no different than that of other Midwest cities," Brooks said. "However, I know that the people who live around the West Lake Landfill have too frequently experienced bad odors from the site and that impacts their quality of life."

The data summary report is available on EPA Region 7's West Lake Landfill website.