ST. LOUIS – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Louis District, met with Cades Cove homeowners yesterday to provide an update on future remediation activities in their neighborhood. District officials also met with area elected officials to update them as well.
“The safety and well-being of the affected property owners is paramount in our remediation activities,” said Col. Andy Pannier, USACE St. Louis District commander. “We are currently working to develop documentation that outlines potential response actions to address materials at these properties and we are committed to coordinating closely with the property owners and surrounding community as we work through this process.”
While performing investigative work under the Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program, or FUSRAP, USACE identified subsurface low-level radioactive contamination in the backyards of several properties in the Cades Cove subdivision. These findings were previously shared with the affected property owners. This material ranges from 2.5 to 17 feet below the ground surface and does not present an immediate danger to the property owners or the community.
Remediation efforts are being conducted in accordance with the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) — a multi-step process that provides a consistent and thorough approach and ensures public input during the process. As part of this process, USACE will be sharing information in a formal document to ensure that in addition to receiving input from the affected property owners, community and regulatory input is also received. Additional updates will be provided once the document is ready for public review.
Release no. 24-047