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No Off-Site Public Health Risks from Stormwater Runoff at West Lake Landfill

08/31/2017
Contact Information: 
Ben Washburn (washburn.ben@epa.gov)
913-551-7364

Environmental News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

EPA seal(Lenexa, Kan., Aug. 31, 2017) - EPA announced today that no off-site, unacceptable public health risks exist from radiological contaminants in stormwater runoff at the West Lake Landfill in Bridgeton, Mo.

The conclusion comes after nearly a year of sampling that was conducted during and after rain events by the potentially responsible parties (PRPs) at EPA’s direction. Laboratory analyses were conducted by the same independent lab used by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources for their recent stormwater testing. EPA concluded the stormwater runoff from the landfill has been below risk-based screening levels.

Acting EPA Region 7 Administrator Edward H. Chu called the findings noteworthy saying, “This is vital information that adds to the volume of previous findings that there is no current off-site, unacceptable public health risk from this former industrial landfill. EPA’s goal is to produce a permanent solution that makes sure the public remains protected into the future.”

The PRPs have collected more than 60 stormwater samples to date. EPA’s directive requires the monitoring to continue. The Agency will incorporate stormwater monitoring into the final proposed remedy, as appropriate. The sampling looked for both landfill contaminants and radioactive particles.

The stormwater data was compared to a risk-based preliminary remediation goal (PRG) that has been prepared for the site. PRGs integrate site-specific information and the latest toxicity values for radiological contaminants to establish exposure levels that are protective of human health and the environment. All of the analytical results obtained to date for stormwater at the site were below the PRG for radionuclides.

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Learn more [https://wcms.epa.gov/mo/west-lake-landfill] about the West Lake Landfill Site

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