“Finding a solution to mitigate the potential impacts of a subsurface smoldering event is a top priority for the community, and a top priority for EPA,” EPA Region 7 Administrator Mark Hague said. “Today’s announcement is the first step in moving forward with the installation of a physical barrier and other engineering controls to address this issue.”
These measures are required based on the landfill’s potential for a subsurface smoldering event, which could come into contact with radioactive materials that are located in the landfill. The agency is working in cooperation with the Army Corps of Engineers and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources throughout the planning stages, and will work with the Corps on completing the construction project.
“We are now working through the highly complex details of implementing our decision and the associated legal steps,” said Hague. “Once the plan is finalized, we are committed to providing this information to the public. EPA will use all available enforcement authorities to ensure implementation of this work.”
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