EPA Administrator Zeldin Travels to St. Louis, Missouri, to Discuss Radioactive Waste Cleanup Efforts and Celebrate AG Day
WASHINGTON – On Monday, March 17, 2025, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin traveled to St. Louis, Missouri, to meet with Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) and community members for a roundtable discussion on the West Lake Landfill. They discussed the work EPA and Senator Hawley are doing to help those impacted. The West Lake landfill Superfund Site was added to the National Priorities List in 1990.
Following the roundtable discussion, Administrator Zeldin, alongside Sen. Hawley, traveled to the West Lake Landfill Superfund Site. After touring West Lake, the group traveled to view portions of Coldwater Creek. EPA and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are actively involved with cleaning up Superfund sites like the St. Louis Airport Site, which includes Coldwater Creek.
“The St. Louis community has been dealing with the effects of West Lake Landfill for decades, and hearing directly from those most impacted will help this Administration align EPA priorities to continue to help them,” said Administrator Zeldin. “I want to thank Senator Hawley for putting together the roundtable and continuing to be a strong advocate for his constituents. When I was going through my confirmation process, I promised Senator Hawley that EPA will enthusiastically recommit to the urgent need of cleaning up West Lake.”
“The government caused this mess. The government lied about it. Now the government needs to clean it up. And the government must also compensate Missourians who have been poisoned for decades by radioactive waste. I’m grateful Administrator Zeldin heard victims’ testimonies firsthand and has promised to take action,” said Senator Hawley (R-MO).
“Meeting with Administrator Zeldin, Senator Hawley, and community stakeholders at sites associated with the Manhattan Project was a priority of mine,” said EPA Region 7 Administrator Jim Macy. “Monday’s tour showcased the important work EPA Region 7 is undertaking to drive the cleanup work to completion and we remain committed to continuing our community engagement efforts.”
On Tuesday, March 18, 2025, Administrator Zeldin celebrated National Agriculture Day in Chesterfield, Missouri, at Stemme Farms, participating in a roundtable discussion hosted by the Missouri Farm Bureau. Local farmers, elected officials and Farm Bureau leadership talked about water issues, crop protection and pesticides, biofuels, and more. Following the roundtable, Administrator Zeldin toured the farm.
“There is no better place to celebrate National Agriculture Day than with American farmers. Our farmers are facing hardships with overregulation from the previous Administration and EPA is working rapidly to unburden all Americans,” said Administrator Zeldin.
“We were pleased to host EPA Administrator (Lee) Zeldin on National Ag Day right here in the Show-Me-State so he could hear firsthand about agricultural issues impacting our farmers,” said Garrett Hawkins, President of Missouri Farm Bureau. “Waters of the U.S., crop protection and biofuels are topics that hit at the heart of our industry. It’s of tremendous value to our members that our voices are included in the conversations that are happening steering federal policy.”