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Dioxin contamination forced Missouri town’s permanent relocation
Dioxin contamination forced Missouri town’s permanent relocation
More than 2,000 residents of Times Beach, Missouri, were permanently relocated after streets treated with waste oil were found to contain highly toxic dioxin. The oil haulier Russell Bliss had mixed chemical-plant…
The Story in Brief
More than 2,000 residents of Times Beach, Missouri, were permanently relocated after streets treated with waste oil were found to contain highly toxic dioxin. The oil haulier Russell Bliss had mixed chemical-plant waste with residual oil used for dust control in the early 1970s. The material was spread across Times Beach and other sites in the state.
After a December 1982 flood, the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Centres for Disease Control advised residents not to return. In February 1983, the EPA, FEMA and Missouri announced US$33.1 million for relocation, covering about 800 homes and 30 businesses. A later cleanup treated 265,354 tons of contaminated material, including 37,234 tons from Times Beach.
The Indian Opinion
The easy version of this story blames either one careless haulier or an overreacting government. Both miss the record. Waste was spread at several sites, contamination was identified before the flood, and officials acted after soil tests showed a continuing health threat. Relocation was costly, but so was leaving residents exposed. The useful test is whether present-day regulators can trace hazardous waste from source to disposal, before another community pays for the gap.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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