Securing Basic Justice for Victims of St. Louis Region Nuclear Contamination
“Justice for St. Louis & St. Charles – the federal government should pay for the medical costs of the people federal nuclear radiation made sick – enough lies. We took a big step forward for justice today.”
Documents Detailing History & Severity of Nuclear Waste
Bin #1
“. . . the problem of the disintegrating K-6 drums at the airport. This is recognized as a severe problem. The solution however, is not as simple as placing the materials in new containers, since the hazards to the workers involved in such an occupation would be considerable. The health hazard to workers handling k-65 material, especially in broken drums, is much more serious and immediate than the possible hazard of stream pollution.” (August, 1949)
Bin #2
“In November 1957 the Commission informed you of its decision to shut down and place in standby the uranium processing facility located at Destrehan Street, St. Louis, Missouri. As you will recall, this action was taken concurrent with the start-up of the new uranium processing facilities at Weldon Spring, Missouri.” (June, 1959)
Bin #3
“The inspection revealed that one of your decommissioning activities at Hazelwood, Missouri, appears to be in violation of AEC requirements. Specifically, it was ascertained that about 8700 tons of leached barium sulfate containing approximately 7 tons of natural uranium was disposed of at the St. Louis, Missouri County sanitary landfill area No. 1 during the period July – October 1973.” (June, 1974)
Background
- Following a visit to St. Louis to visit with the community impacted by nuclear waste and attending a rally for justice in July 2023, Senator Hawley introduced legislation to compensate victims. The legislation was adopted as an amendment in the Senate version of the NDAA.
- Senator Hawley pushed for a Senate hearing on the government-caused nuclear contamination of the St. Louis area as well as the steps that involved government agencies are taking to remediate the area.
- Senator Hawley sent separate letters to United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Lieutenant General Scott Spellmon, Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Jennifer Granholm, and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan demanding answers on nuclear contamination in the St. Louis region.
- In April 2023, Senator Hawley’s legislation mandating the clean up of Jana Elementary School in the Hazelwood School District and radioactive waste testing passed the U.S. Senate. Biden’s Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm also vowed to support it.
- In March 2023, Senator Hawley delivered remarks on the Senate floor and attempted to unanimously pass his legislation to clean up Jana Elementary School and test the surrounding buildings in the Hazelwood School District, but it was blocked.
- In early March 2023, Senator Hawley called out the Biden Administration for its lack of action on the Jana Elementary School cleanup.
- In February 2023, Senator Hawley introduced the Justice for Jana Elementary Act following an Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing where he pushed the DOE for answers on the radioactive waste found at the school.
- In January 2023, Senator Hawley and Congresswoman Cori Bush sent a letter to USACE Lieutenant General Spellmon calling for additional radioactive testing of Hazelwood School District’s properties.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
“Important – President Biden endorses my legislation with Senator Luján to compensate Missouri residents and other victims of federal government nuclear waste.”
Get in Touch
Senator Hawley wishes to help any St. Louis-area resident affected by the federal government’s decades-old negligence. If you believe you or a loved one have been impacted by Manhattan Project-Era nuclear radiation, please contact Senator Hawley’s St. Louis office at (314) 354-7060.
“Why is it that [the federal government] can spend hundreds of billions of dollars on wars overseas, but right here, in this community, it can’t lift a finger?”
Senator Josh Hawley