NPR: Approximately 3 months before nuclear crisis in St. Louis, MO

Was listening to NPR news this morning. There was a decent well covered report on the developing nuclear crisis at the West Lake Landfill in St. Louis, MO.

NPR - Nuclear Crisis in St. Louis, MO

I'll summarize what NPR said:

- At this time the Bridgeton Landfill underground chemical fire is only 1,000 feet from the edge (ie. rim) of the West Lake nuclear waste dump.

- The State of Missouri hired consultants to review the situation. They believe that if the fire reaches the buried nuclear waste, it could cause a chain reaction that could lead to a Chernobyl event (worst case scenario). They also released a damning report on the EPA's lack of attention to the potential public safety crisis.

- Bridgeton Landfill hired consultants to review their underground chemical fire and the nearby buried nuclear waste and they believe the underground fire is actually moving away from the nuclear dump and therefore poses little threat. They say the Bridgeton Landfill fire is in a "managed state". Worst case scenario if indeed the underground fire reaches the nuclear site: A small amount of radon gas could be released into the air which would quickly dissipate and be harmless beyond the boundaries of the Bridgeton and West Lake landfills. No eminent danger to the nearest suburb 2 miles away.

- The EPA (which manages the West Lake nuclear dump) hired consultants who reported that there is no threat to the public. Remember, this is the same EPA who singlehandedly caused the Colorado Gold King Mine environmental disaster.

- (copied from linked article) However, a report released last year by EPA scientists said if the waste got hot enough, it could release both radon and radioactive dust into the air. Since no one knows exactly what's mixed in with the radioactive material, those other substances could be prone to explosion.

- (copied from linked article) So far, there's no buyout offer for residents near the landfill — and no feasible way to put out the underground fire. The EPA says it will announce plans to build a firebreak before the end of the year and decide whether to dig up the radioactive waste sometime in 2017.