FLORISSANT • Additional radioactive material has been discovered at a Bridgeton landfill, according to Florissant City Engineer Tim Barrett.
In a letter to Florissant Mayor Thomas Schneider, who had requested an update, Barrett said that he spoke with someone from the state Department of Natural Resources on Monday afternoon about the additional radioactive waste at the West Lake Landfill. He said a report was expected to be released by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency later this week on the new findings.
The radioactive material was discovered during exploratory work for construction of a cutoff trench to separate the known radioactive waste from an underground fire smoldering in the South Quarry of the adjacent Bridgeton Landfill.
Depending on the location and results of additional sampling, Barrett wrote, “the new findings will impact where and how it (the trench) is built.”
“Going in all parties knew there was a chance that some additional radioactive materials may be encountered, and it appears that they did indeed find it,” Barrett wrote.
He wrote that the temperature and gas conditions were still lower than the level to require a trench. However, he wrote, “Republic Services (landfill owner) decided to forgo watching for the ‘trigger’ levels and go ahead and build the trench rather than sit and wait.”
State Rep. Keith English, D-Florissant, who has been actively monitoring the landfill, said: “For many years, cities like Florissant have wanted these tests done.”
He credited a lawsuit filed by the state attorney general for prompting the landfill testing.
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