Coldwater Creek Nuclear Waste Cleanup

under cleanup

Coldwater Creek in North St. Louis County was used as a dumping ground for radioactive waste generated by uranium processing plants involved in the Manhattan Project. The waste, including raffinate with a talcum powder consistency, was dumped in barrels and piles near the creek and adjacent land, leading to contamination of soil and water. Cleanup efforts have been ongoing, led by the Army Corps of Engineers and the EPA, with a target completion date around 2038. The cleanup focuses on the main channel and 10-year floodplain of the creek, but concerns remain about tributaries and residual contamination in residential areas.