Council hears EPA update on Westlake Landfill; timeline and scope remain uncertain

Council member Grimmer told the Bridgeton City Council on Sept. 4 that he and other local officials attended an EPA meeting on Aug. 29 about the Westlake Landfill remedial action and that EPA reported finding additional radiologically impacted material.

Grimmer said the additional findings have expanded the footprint of the remedial work and increased estimated excavation and cost. He told the council the EPA would not commit to a firm start date for moving material and expressed frustration at the lack of a schedule. "Not surprisingly, they have found more radioactive impacted material in their testing," Grimmer said, adding that the plan "has been modified accordingly." He said he asked EPA point-blank about start dates but received no commitment.

The numbers Grimmer cited in the meeting were inconsistent in magnitude in the transcript: he said earlier EPA estimates called for removing about 229,000 cubic yards of soil but later quoted an updated figure that was reported in the meeting as much larger; the transcript lists a second figure with an inconsistent magnitude. That discrepancy is recorded and flagged for follow-up; council members and the city administrator did not provide a corrected, definitive excavation or cost total during the public meeting.

Council members said they will press for more detailed timelines and clearer cost estimates from the EPA and noted that the city may publish EPA updates and future meeting notices to keep residents informed. The council did not take further action at the meeting on the remediation program.