U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin has announced a significant acceleration of the cleanup timeline for the West Lake Landfill Superfund Site in Bridgerton, Missouri, following his visit to St. Louis in March. The announcement, detailed in a newly released EPA Region 7 Status Update, also provided an update on the ongoing remediation of Coldwater Creek.
The updated timeline for the West Lake Landfill now projects excavation to begin in 2027, a nearly two-year reduction from the previously estimated May 2029 start date provided by responsible party consultants. This acceleration comes as a direct result of increased EPA focus and collaboration with the responsible parties.
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“Meeting and speaking with the St. Louis community members who have long endured radioactive waste in their community was beyond moving. This moment requires an unprecedented effort to clean up the West Lake Landfill and impacted sites in the area. I look forward to partnering with Senator Josh Hawley to achieve remarkable and urgent progress,” said EPA Administrator Zeldin.
EPA Region 7 Administrator Jim Macy emphasized the agency’s commitment to overseeing the cleanup, stating, “I believe the needs and resources highlighted in this report demonstrate our commitment to overseeing the cleanup performed at the West Lake Landfill. By identifying process efficiencies and improvements, we are looking forward to starting the cleanup sooner than previously anticipated.”
The expedited timeline was achieved through restructuring the process to allow for earlier confirmation sampling, increased time for post-remediation planning, and a commitment to faster EPA review turnarounds. The update also identifies current resource needs, including the implementation of Remedial Actions outlined in the Consent Decree, as the EPA works towards finalizing the 100% Remedial Design.
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The West Lake Landfill Superfund Site is notable for its online tracking dashboard, providing unprecedented transparency to the public regarding the cleanup progress.
Regarding the St. Louis Airport Sites, also known as Coldwater Creek, the status update projects the complete transfer of the site to the Department of Energy legacy management program in 2038. This date signifies the completion of remediation activities according to the 2005 Record of Decision, including the implementation of land use controls where complete cleanup to target levels was not feasible. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers remains the lead federal agency for this site.
Administrator Zeldin’s visit to Missouri included tours of the West Lake Landfill, portions of Coldwater Creek, and the St. Louis Airport, sites contaminated by uranium ore processing waste brought to the landfill in the 1970s. The West Lake Landfill was added to the National Priorities List in 1990.
The EPA has reiterated its commitment to overseeing the cleanup of both sites and driving the remediation efforts to completion.
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