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Senator Hawley Urges Nominee To Reassess Past ATSDR Findings on Westlake Landfill Contamination

5098458 · June 25, 2025

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Summary

Senator Josh Hawley pressed Dr. Menares to review the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry's past health study of the Westlake Landfill in Bridgeton, Missouri, citing subsequent Army Corps findings and news reporting that, he said, revealed flaws in the earlier ATSDR work.

Senator Josh Hawley pressed the nominee on the government's response to alleged radioactive contamination in the St. Louis area at the Westlake Landfill Superfund site and asked whether the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) should reexamine its prior health study.

Hawley described the site's history — including uranium‑era waste and subsequent disposal in landfills — and said that later investigations, including Army Corps action to relocate residents near contaminated creeks, contradicted ATSDR's 2015 conclusion that there was "no health risk" to the surrounding community. He said subsequent reporting by Reuters and other federal agency studies showed more contamination and that families had been moved from homes.

"Will you work to ensure that ATSDR, if you're confirmed, reviews its methodology and does another thorough study that corrects its faulty methodology from the past and gets the facts to the people of Missouri that we deserve on this issue?" Hawley asked. Dr. Menares replied, "If I'm confirmed as a CDC director, we will definitely look into this and I'm happy to follow‑up with you." She added she would "look into it" and follow up with the senator.

The exchange focused on scientific methods, interagency coordination and community health protections; Dr. Menares signaled willingness to review ATSDR methodology and engage with the senator's office if confirmed.