Residential Area Information for Spanish Village, Bridgeton, Missouri

Residential Area Information for Spanish Village, Bridgeton, Missouri – Report from June 2017

In December 2016, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) conducted a thorough investigation in the Spanish Village neighbourhood of Bridgeton. The aim was to assess the presence of Manhattan Project waste, following concerns about the West Lake Landfill Superfund Site.

The EPA's investigation involved both indoor and outdoor sampling. Indoor radiation surveys, wipe and dust sampling were carried out in homes, focusing on rooms where people spend the most time, such as bedrooms and living rooms, as well as entrances.

Outside, soil samples were collected from play areas, vegetable gardens, and other exterior features, including downspouts. The outdoor portion of the screening used radiation detectors to survey the soil outside homes and identify locations for soil sampling.

A total of over 140 samples were collected from the two homes for alpha, beta, and gamma radiation analysis. The laboratory results for wipe samples were below EPA's residential screening levels, and all soil sampling results were within normal background ranges for each analysed radionuclide.

The interior wipe sampling results also showed no relation to materials found at West Lake. This body of scientific data supports the conclusion that no Manhattan Project wastes were found in the sampled homes.

The final report of the Bridgeton Dust Pre-CERCLA screening is available online for public viewing. The identity of the person who supervised the EPA evaluations of the Bridgeton dust review in 2017 is not publicly disclosed.

Handheld instruments were used to determine optimum locations for dust sampling and surface wipe sampling of floors, walls, and other surfaces. The EPA coordinated with several agencies, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in developing the sampling plan and reviewing the analytical results.

Interested citizens can contact Ben Washburn to be added to EPA's email list for updates on the West Lake Landfill Superfund Site. Additional information regarding the site, including informational publications, technical documents, and sampling results, is also available online.

A Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) for this investigation is also available online, ensuring transparency and adherence to EPA's quality standards. The dust sampling results showed no relation to materials found at West Lake, providing reassurance to the community.

In conclusion, the EPA's investigation in Bridgeton has provided evidence that no Manhattan Project waste was found in the sampled homes, bringing a sense of relief to the community.