E.P.A. Says Air Quality near West Lake Landfill Consistent with Greater Saint Louis and Other Midwest Cities

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

According to Agency experts, an air quality monitoring network with 5 stations operating for the past 7 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 Location in Saint 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," E.P.A. Region seven Administrator Karl Brooks said. "The numbers are typical of what you would find in the environment elsewhere in Saint Louis."

"The radiation levels being measured indicate there are no delivers 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 Location and that impacts their quality of life."

The data summary report is accessible on E.P.A. Region 7's West Lake Landfill website.

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