State Rep. Claims Koster caused unnecessary hysteria in St. Louis region.
SPRINGFIELD, MO – Today, Rep. Sonya Murray Anderson issued a statement regarding recent events surrounding Attorney General Chris Koster’s expert reports on the West Lake and Bridgeton Landfills near St. Louis.
It is becoming clear that Attorney General Koster has used the issue of these landfills to cause unnecessary hysteria in the St. Louis region for his own political gain.
According to his own experts, the chemical reaction in the Bridgeton site is contained and is not a risk to public health. It is also not moving closer to the radioactive materials in the Bridgeton Landfill. This is in direct conflict with Koster’s previous statements. In addition, the EPA has said that the site poses no risk to public health.
In the last month, parents have received letters from local school districts about evacuation plans and families have been practicing sheltering in place. Koster owes the people of the region an apology for scaring them into thinking they were at risk.
As the Chair of the House Committee on Conservation & Natural Resources, I’m familiar with the issues surrounding Cold Water Creek, where there are real problems in North St. Louis County. Koster fanned flames to make it seem like this was a similar situation, perhaps distracting from actual health risks in the region.
I’ve been to the landfill sites in Bridgeton and found them to be safe and closely monitored. I agree with many others throughout the region that want the West Lake Landfill site cleaned up with a cap without delay and for the issue to be resolved once and for all.
Sonya Anderson was elected to the House of Representatives in 2012 and resides in Springfield. She Chairs the House Committee on Conservation & Natural Resources.
