High levels of radioactive contamination have been found along Coldwater Creek, a result of the negligent handling and storage of radioactive waste left over from Manhattan Project uranium processing in north St. Louis. This dangerous waste was left in outdoor piles at a Latty Avenue storage site near the current St. Louis Airport, very near to Coldwater Creek. Over time, rain washed some of the radioactive waste into Coldwater Creek, where testing by scientists has revealed it spread onto the property, homes, parks, gardens, and businesses in the floodplain along the creek. The waste that spread contains dangerous radioactive isotopes of radium, uranium, thorium, and other elements, which can cause cancer and other fatal illnesses, as well as genetic mutations that can be passed down for generations.
Our law firms have filed a class action on behalf of those who own property near Coldwater Creek. We seek compensation for the contamination of property, loss of property value and business income, and in some cases, the cost of relocation. The US Government through the FUSRAP program is engaged in ongoing testing and cleanup of these dangerous materials from Coldwater Creek. However, that process will not be complete until 2038 and will not compensate individuals affected. Our law firms have filed a class action on behalf of those who own property near Coldwater Creek. We seek compensation for the contamination of property, loss of property value and business income, and in some cases, the cost of relocation.
For nearly half a century, two landfills near St. Louis have stored thousands of tons of highly toxic radioactive waste that was produced in the 1940s and 1950s. The waste contains dangerous radioactive isotopes of radium, uranium, thorium, and other elements, which can cause cancer and other fatal illnesses, as well as genetic mutations that can be passed down for generations.
In 1973, after being stored at other sites, the waste was dumped in two privately-owned landfills, the Bridgeton and West Lake Landfills in Bridgeton, Missouri. These landfills were not designed or licensed to store radioactive waste. They are simply large holes in the ground, with no liners preventing the waste from seeping into the soil and the water. As a result, the soil now has a concentration of radium-226 that is ten thousand times higher than normal. Beneath the landfills, meanwhile, there is a smoldering subsur-face fire that is getting close to the radioactive waste. The fire has the potential to cause the expulsion of toxic radioactive gases. Over the years, radioactivity has spread from the landfills to the surrounding properties. Radioactive contamination has been found in the neighboring community in the soil, in the surface water, in the trees, and in the air.
We filed our cases in Missouri state court under Missouri laws because we believe issues that affect St. Louis should be decided by St. Louis judges and juries. The Defendants are trying to take these cases out of local hands and into federal court, but we're fighting back. Our Bridgeton/West Lake Landfill case is currently pending review by the United States Supreme Court. Our writ of certiorari on file with the US Supreme Court involves a review of the 8th Circuit's determination that the local controversy exception to the Class Action Fairness Act (CAFA) is not applicable to defendant Rock Road Industries. If the Supreme Court accepts the case and rules in our favor, the Bridgeton/West Lake Landfill case will be transferred from federal court and continue in Missouri state court. This will be an important step towards achieving justice in this case, and towards ensuring that future class actions impacting Missouri residents can be decided by Missouri courts.
View our writ filed with the US Supreme Court below.
The state and federal government have studied the health of the communities in and around Coldwater Creek and found residents are at an increased risk of various cancers potentially due to exposure to radioactive waste. Studies by the Missouri Department of Health found increased rates of leukemia, female breast, colon, prostate, kidney, bladder cancers, and childhood brain and other nervous system cancers compared to statewide rates in the zip codes containing Coldwater Creek. These studies were followed by an in-depth look at the radioactive waste in Coldwater Creek and its impact on human health by the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR).
On the right is the ATSDR's Public Health Consultation on toxic pollution and radiation. This report uses the environmental data present as well as information from the community in order to evaluate whether people living near Coldwater Creek have or have had harmful exposure to radiological or chemical contaminants from the creek. The ATSDR concluded, "Residential exposures in the past (1960s to 1990s) could have resulted in elevated risks for developing bone cancer, lung cancer, leukemia, and (to a lesser extent) skin cancer or breast cancer." Through our class action lawsuit, we will investigate the extent of pollution further and make sure the health of residents is protected.
The ATSDR acknowledged the health risks to the community from the off-gassing of sulfur dioxides but completely ignored the risk from hundreds of tons of deadly radioactive Thorium illegal dumped by Com Ed into the landfill.
Read our class action complaints for citizens affected by radiation and toxic pollution in the Coldwater Creek and Bridgeton Landfill areas below.
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Responsible Attorney Anthony Gray, 2705 Dougherty Ferry Road, Suite 100, St. Louis, MO. 63122. Some work may be performed by other attorneys.
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