Atomic Homefront: 2023 West Lake Landfill Update from “Just Moms STL”

What do you do when you realize there might be an explanation for the odd smells, illnesses and birth defects in animals and people where you live? That is the realization these two residents, and many in their community, had as they learned about the presence of leaching World War II-era radioactive wastes in a landfill a few miles away. This event brings two “Just Moms,” Karen Nickel and Dawn Chapman, to campus to speak about their experiences and their actions, including founding “Just Moms STL” and their work to advocate for their communities  as documented in the HBO film “Atomic Homefront.” 

Bios:

Karen Nickel

Karen Nickel is the founder of the West Lake Landfill facebook group, Co-founder of Just Moms STL, Chairwoman West Lake Landfill Community Advisory Group, member of the Connections for Health and Healing Program Community Advisory Committee Just Moms STL was created in March 2014 to educate our community about radioactive materials that were left in and around the St. Louis areas for decades. These materials created widespread contamination via a mainstream creek, landfills, soils and air all over the St. Louis Missouri area. Karen, alongside the other co-founder Dawn Chapman, have spent hours educating not only their own community, but communities nationwide. Their work has brought forth many awards including the Richard Pryor Citizen Activist Award, the North County, Inc Community Development Award, and A Whistle Blowers award. Karen and Dawn have also been presented a Missouri House of Representatives Resolution plaque, and a Commemorative National Day of Atomic Workers Pin. After years of working with local, state and federal agencies, Karen has recognized the need for improved communications between communities and government agencies. Learning you live just a mere mile and a half from a toxic Superfund site is very scary, especially one that is on fire. Just Moms STL is looking to improve on how that is communicated, not only from an agency standpoint, but the citizens within the community as well. Karen, unknowingly, for years, was exposed to radioactive materials as a child from living in a contaminated area in St. Louis. She has six children, and seven grandchildren. She looks forward to the day that the West Lake Landfill and the other sites in her community are remediated and proven to be a safer environment for her family and future generations.

Dawn Chapman

Dawn Chapman, working in tandem with co-founder Karen Nickel, runs non-profit organization “Just Moms STL.” Just Moms STL is an advocacy group formed with the goal of raising awareness and community engagement regarding the nearby West Lake Landfill Superfund site. Living mere miles from the landfill, Dawn became engaged in this effort in 2013 after contacting the MO Dept of Natural Resources regarding pungent odors. That call would end up leading Dawn an unlikely journey from housewife and mother of three to becoming an advocate, a repository of knowledge and history about this site, and even a mentor to people dealing with the impact of other Superfund sites on their own communities across the country. Dawn has collaborated with and advised local, state and federal agencies, media organizations, and both locally affected community members as well as passionate environmental advocates worldwide. She has presented to groups as widely varied as high school and college classes, church and municipal groups, the MO State Legislature, all the way up to appearing before the United Nations Human Rights and Environmental Justice division. She was also invited to present to the White House Council on Environmental Quality.
Ultimately, Dawn and Karen’s persistence and determination through Just Moms STL paid off. In
2018 the EPA decided upon a new Record of Decision for the West Lake Landfill site, declaring
plans to remove a majority of the radioactive material and ensure the safety of the surrounding
community. Although one of their most important goals had been achieved, this didn’t signify the
end of Dawn and Karen’s work with Just Moms STL. They continue to work with EPA on finalizing
the plan to clean up the West Lake Landfill site, as well as mentoring people at other Superfund
and environmentally contaminated sites on how to advocate for their health and safety.

Ogranized by the students of  "EEE 56000 Environmental Justice Case Studies," Dr. F. de la Cruz, instructor