Resident warns council that Coldwater Creek contamination should shape any airport expansion

Bridgeton — During public comment at the Nov. 20 Bridgeton City Council meeting a resident who identified herself as Theresa raised environmental and public-health concerns tied to a proposed airport expansion, saying Coldwater Creek "runs through the airport, which is known to be contaminated with toxic waste." She urged the city and airport planners to seek safer alternatives before moving forward.

Theresa said historical releases and flooding have allowed contaminants to leach from barrels at the airport site and ultimately reach West Lake Landfill and regional waterways. She told the council she is concerned that proposed measures to divert or dam the creek or to demolish older buildings could disperse contamination into local landfills and groundwater, potentially affecting people who draw water from the Missouri River.

"The current proposal has them either diverting it or damming it or get out of the way for their expansion," she said, adding that she had been told no environmental study had been done and that that omission would be "neglectful." She urged officials to adopt a plan that contains and controls contamination rather than moving it to other sites.

Council members acknowledged the comment during the public-comment period but did not record any staff response from airport authorities or direct council action at the meeting. The comment was entered into the record during the public-comment section; the council moved on to other agenda items, including contract readings and ordinances.

The transcript does not record a response from airport staff, environmental regulators or an explicit staff commitment to follow up; the claim therefore remained unresolved at the end of the meeting.