Missouri seeks law “mitigating” risks from legacy nuclear-weapons; forms special committee

Two years after a St. Louis-area school was closed following reports of radioactive contamination, Missouri lawmakers are laying groundwork for new state laws about risks from legacy nuclear-weapons.

Missouri House Speaker Rep. Dean Plocher (R) announced the formation of the committee in a statement dated Oct. 3.

The eight-member Special Interim Committee on the Impact of U.S. Nuclear Weapon Programs on Missouri will first meet on Oct. 15 in St. Peters, Mo. The committee planned to conduct an investigation of those affected by radioactive contamination from legacy nuclear weapons, summarize its findings in a report and use the report as the basis for a bill or bills to be debated in the state’s 2025 legislative session, which begins Jan. 8.

Lawmakers may file bills for the 2025 session as soon as Dec. 1, under Missouri’s state constitution.

“Proposed legislation for 2025 may include expanding the Radioactive Waste Testing Fund, exempting Federal Nuclear Bomb Victim’s Compensation funds and [National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health] settlements from Missouri state taxes, and strengthening notification requirements for workers involved in Superfund site remediation,” reads Plocher’s statement. “Additional recommendations may follow as needed.”

The committee consists of five Republicans and three Democrats:

• Rep. Tricia Byrnes (R), the chair.
• Rep. Mark Matthiesen (R), the vice chair.
• Rep. Raychel Proudie (D), the ranking committee Democrat.
• Rep. Aaron Crossley (R).
• Rep. Ian Mackey (D).
• Rep. Don Mayhew (D).
• Rep. Renee Reuter (R).
• Rep. Richard West (R).

An October 2022 report by Boston Chemical Data Corp. found that radiological contamination near Jana Elementary School, which sits close to the Coldwater Creek in Hazelwood, Mo., exceeded standards of the Environmental Protection Agency. The school closed following the report and, less than a year later, announced it would not reopen.

The Coldwater Creek Superfund site near the St. Louis airport stored waste from the Weldon Springs Chemical Plant that processed uranium for nuclear weapons in St. Charles County, Mo., during the Manhattan Project. The Army Corps of Engineers’ Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program (FUSRAP) is cleaning up the site, and the area near the shuttered school.

Lawmakers including Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.), who lost a primary this year, and Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) have tried and failed to expand federal compensation programs for those afflicted with radiological maladies to people near St. Louis.