On The Issues

"Environmental justice means that no community should be left behind when it comes to public health and environmental protection."

- Maria Chappelle-Nadal

For decades, families across St. Louis County have lived with the legacy of radioactive contamination linked to Manhattan Project-era waste. Residents have raised concerns about contamination near landfills, waterways, neighborhoods, schools, parks, churches, and other community spaces. The West Lake Landfill remains an EPA Superfund site, and community organizations continue to advocate for cleanup and long-term public health protections.

Since 2010, Maria Chappelle-Nadal has been one of Missouri's most prominent advocates for environmental justice and radioactive waste awareness. During her time in the Missouri Senate, she became known for bringing public attention to contamination issues affecting North St. Louis County and for pushing state and federal agencies to act.

Maria organized dozens of community meetings and town halls to educate residents about contamination concerns, cleanup efforts, and public health issues. By her own accounting and contemporaneous reporting, she held more than 60 town halls and sought to reach 100 meetings focused on radioactive waste and environmental health.

Her work extended beyond public meetings. Maria advised local and state policymakers, advocated for stronger cleanup efforts, supported residents seeking answers, and worked to ensure that affected communities had access to information about environmental risks and available resources.

Throughout her advocacy, Maria argued that communities deserve transparency, accountability, and meaningful involvement in decisions that affect their health and quality of life. She consistently called for stronger action from state and federal agencies regarding radioactive contamination in the St. Louis region.

After 16 years in the Missouri legislature, Maria shared her thoughts on the environment on a podcast.

Maria's message has always been simple:

Every family deserves clean air, safe water, healthy neighborhoods, and honest answers.

The fight for environmental justice is not just about contamination. It is about protecting future generations, ensuring government accountability, and making certain that no community is forgotten.

Today, Maria continues to advocate for affected families and supports efforts to expand assistance programs for individuals and communities impacted by radioactive waste exposure. Her commitment remains rooted in the belief that every resident has the right to live, work, learn, and raise a family in a safe and healthy environment.

While the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) has finally been expanded to include portions of the St. Louis region, many families spent decades fighting for recognition, accountability, and justice before that day arrived. Today, eligible residents in designated St. Louis-area ZIP codes can seek compensation for certain illnesses linked to exposure from Manhattan Project-era radioactive waste.

Sadly, for many families, that recognition came too late.

Maria's friend Carol will never have the opportunity to benefit from the program she fought so hard to help make possible. In her final years, Carol dedicated herself to educating others about the environmental dangers facing North St. Louis County. She attended town halls, gathered documents, shared information with neighbors, and worked tirelessly to ensure that future generations would know the truth about the contamination that affected their community.

Even while facing her own health challenges, Carol remained committed to helping others navigate a difficult and often confusing system. Her determination helped raise awareness for countless families seeking answers.

Carol's legacy reminds us that environmental justice is not just about policy—it's about people. It's about families who have spent decades demanding to be heard, communities that refused to give up, and neighbors who fought for one another when few others would.

Watch Carol's story below and learn why the fight for accountability, cleanup, and justice continues.