New Climate Summit Edition Of “Growing Up With The River” Released
A special Climate Summit Edition of the book, “Growing Up With The River,” will debut in Kirkwood at 6:30 p.m., April 5, at the Franciscan Sisters headquarters at 335 S. Kirkwood Road.
by Don Corrigan (Webster-Kirkwood Times)
A bit of explanation is in order:
•“Growing Up with the River” is a book with colorful artwork by Brian Haynes that shows how climate change has been affecting the Missouri River region over the decades.
•The Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Help have made climate change awareness a major focus of their mission. The April 5 book event will include activities of the Inter-Community Ecological Council.
•The Climate Summit at St. Louis University on April 22-24 will be an unprecedented meeting of the minds enlisting experts on climate science, ecology, sustainable development, weather and more.
Celebrate Trees During Arbor Days In April
Photo by MDC Staff, courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation.
Just in case you have not noticed yet, the local Redbuds are looking like they want to start blooming. Spring is around the corner! Finally!
The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) offers a great idea to help celebrate our trees during Arbor Days.
Don’t Miss The St. Louis Earth Day Free Film Series In April
St. Louis Earth Day is celebrating Earth Month with some fantastic FREE film Screenings.
Throughout the month of April 2018, venues in the St. Louis metro area will provide free screenings of environmental-themed documentaries and movies to celebrate Earth Month!
The sampling of the film line-up includes titles, such as “Atomic Homefront,” which provides a closer look at the Westlake Landfill situation in North St. Louis County, “Gray Area – Wolves of the Southwest,” and “A Plastic Ocean.”
Find details and more information about the film screenings HERE.
Celebrate Forest Park Now and Forever With A Party At Pagoda Circle
Celebrate the success of Forever: The Campaign for Forest Park’s Future at a free gathering at the iconic Pagoda Circle. The campaign helped to raise funding for park improvements and maintenance.
Hosted by Forest Park Forever, the FREE public event will offer live music from the local band Fat Pocket and popular local food trucks will be on-site for the public to purchase some tasty treats. The event will be family-friendly and also pet-friendly.
When: Wednesday, April 11, 5:00-7:30 p.m.
Where: Pagoda Circle
Parking: Free parking is available in the Visitor Center east & west lots, the Festival & Parking Plaza and the lower Muny lot.
The event is FREE & open to the public! Find more information HERE.
Amazing Rockwoods Race competition April 14, 2018
Photo by MDC Staff, courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation.
Outdoor lovers with a competitive streak can rise to the challenge during a great nature-themed contest this spring.
The Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) Rockwoods Reservation will host the Amazing Rockwoods Race competition Saturday, April 14 from Noon-4:30 p.m. Much like the popular TV program, participants will take on physical and mental challenges as they discover nature in a unique and active way.
EPA Updates Public About West Lake Landfill and Requests Public Comment Submissions
EPA public meeting about proposed West Lake Landfill remedies held March 6, 2018, in Bridgeton, Mo.
To simply write that the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) public meeting detailing proposed remedies for West Lake Landfill was a packed house would be an understatement. The meeting hall was overflowing and parking was a mess. It is estimated that more than 1,000 people attended.
The meeting, held March 6, 2018, in Bridgeton, Mo, outlined the eight different plans the EPA is currently considering as a remedy to the illegally dumped radioactive waste contained in West Lake Landfill.
Continue reading below to see outlines of the eight proposed West Lake Landfill remedies, and video clips of the comments made at the meeting by Just Moms stl co-founders Karen Nickel and Dawn Chapman, Bridgeton Mayor Terry Briggs, and Albert Kelly, chair of the EPA’s Superfund Task Force and advisor to EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt.
Stop Blocking The Grainbelt Express for Clean St. Louis Energy
Photo Courtesy Webster-Kirkwood Times.
The St. Louis Board of Aldermen last fall passed a measure aimed at powering the city entirely on renewable energy sources, including wind and power by 2035. The action drew national praise.
It’s an ambitious proposal that faces a lot of roadblocks. St. Louis is home to three major coal companies that haven’t been shy about expressing their opposition.
Find out more about this topic below.
West Lake Landfill: Upcoming EPA Community Meeting, Public Comments, and More
The Missouri Coalition for the Environment (MCE) has made it easy to find out what is happening with the current issues surrounding West Lake Landfill. MCE’s website allows one-stop access to information about the EPA’s proposed remedy, to post a public comment, and to view the new HBO documentary Atomic Homefront.
Links are provided below.
More information about the EPA’s proposed remedy (partial radioactive removal) click HERE.
Submit a public comment directly to the EPA – click HERE.
Watch the HBO documentary Atomic Homefront – click HERE.
Below, find information on the upcoming EPA community meeting on March 6, 2018.
Posted in Local Events
Radioactive Legacy of St. Louis: The Cost, The Human Suffering, The Power of Community
EPA Estimate for West Lake Radioactive Debris Cleanup
Landfill Cap: $95 Million
Partial Removal: $236 Million
Total Removal: $700 Million
Only now – after years of tears, diseases and deaths – does it seem that there is an acknowledgment of the full extent of the human damage that began when uranium ore came to St. Louis for processing for the manufacture of atomic weapons. And only now does there seem to be a realization of just how costly the cleanup of much of the resulting radioactive contamination will be.
“The truth is that until the last shovel full of this waste is removed from these areas, the region remains at risk,” said Dawn Chapman of Just MomsSTL. “The landfill fire helps people realize and think about all the issues surrounding this radioactive waste — and what can go wrong. It’s also an example of how dragging your feet and passing these issues on down the road leads to damaged health and looming emergency situations that could have been avoided.”
— Excerpted from Don Corrigan’s story in the next issue of Gateway Journalism Review. The story covers the reactions of Just MomsSTL members to the Feb. 1 announcement by EPA about plans to finally address the radioactive landfill at West Lake in North St. Louis County.
Pictured above: Dawn Chapman (Left) and Karen Nickel, co-founders of Just Moms STL.
Just MomsSTL will receive the Whistleblowers Awards from Gateway Journalism Review at its yearly event celebrating journalism in April:
WHAT: Gateway Journalism Review’s yearly event celebration
WHEN: Thursday, April 12, 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. when our speaker will be Carl Bernstein at the Edward Jones HQ, Manchester & Ballas Roads.
WHERE: Edward Jones HQ, Manchester & Ballas Roads, Des Peres.
HIGHLIGHTS: Carl Bernstein of the Washington Post Watergate Investigation will be interviewed live from his New York location.
AWARDS: Three awards to be presented: 2018 Whistle Blower Award, Lifetime Achievement Award, 2018 Freedom Fighter Award.
To see past coverage and podcast interviews about the West Lake Landfill and Cold Water Creek Radioactive Contamination Issue by Environmental Echo,
please see below:
