Let me preface this response to two Post-Dispatch editorials (“Blight’s bite takes hold when no one cares about abusive practices,†on Sunday, and “NGA-related dumpsite is a big health concern. Who’s protecting residents’ rights?†June 16) by saying that the safety and well-being of the students, parents, teachers and citizens in the area are a top priority for all of us. We will do everything possible to ensure public health and safety.
We regret the distress the stockpile of demolition material has caused neighboring Gateway Middle School students and staff. It is important to note that once their concerns surfaced in February, importing and stockpiling activity of demolition-related materials on the Pruitt-Igoe site ceased the same day. We are not aware of any complaints about any new activity causing dust to be generated or wind-blown from the site with the exception of these editorials and a series of reports by ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Public Radio. We welcome any specific information that may have been received by the Post-Dispatch in order to respond appropriately.
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The excavation contractor, Kolb Grading, contacted the owner of the former Pruitt-Igoe site and came to an agreement to stockpile and crush the material for beneficial reuse. The location was agreed to by the property owner, the owner’s environmental consultant and the contractor. Additionally, it was found acceptable to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. As confirmed by the city’s Building Division, temporary stockpiles of reusable material do not require rezoning. Zoning is a land-use plan for an area and is not relevant during the construction period.
The stockpile material is made up of street, alley, sidewalk, brick and foundations that meet the classification of clean fill by the Department of Natural Resources. Other small stockpiles on the site such as asphalt are also classified as clean fill by the department. According to the department, this activity of temporary stockpiling of clean fill for beneficial reuse does not constitute a landfill. The reuse of this material is a sustainable measure to keep it out of landfills and is common practice within the construction industry and encouraged by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Once the contractor became aware of the school’s concerns and stockpiling activities of demolition material at the site were stopped, the contractor met with the school and parents on multiple occasions to discuss concerns and actions moving forward. Upon the request of the staff of Gateway Middle School, air monitoring will continue, and the stockpile will not be disturbed until it is removed after summer school classes are complete. Additionally, water tank trucks are available in case of high winds during the removal of the material. To be proactive, the contractor has agreed to remove the stockpile and perform crushing at another location.
We had the City Health Department research the alleged increase in respiratory illness at the school. The information did not indicate any correlation between the stockpiling and reported respiratory cases. There was no increase in the number of cases of respiratory illness compared to the previous year or surrounding months.
We have made tremendous progress preparing the site for the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency to begin construction of its new campus, and throughout the process, we have worked to engage the community in a conversation about our shared future together. Through our neighborhood action plan, Project Connect, we have held numerous community meetings and have engaged and informed the community through many different channels.
We have and will continue to be responsive to any concerns that have been voiced by our neighbors in the surrounding community and will be proactive in protecting public health and safety.
The contractor has confirmed that on-site crushing, import to and export of the stockpile will cease until end of summer school. We will continue monitoring correspondence and public concern regarding this issue through the city’s call center, Neighborhood Improvement Specialist team, Department of Health, Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Gateway Middle School and our federal partners, because we do care.
We are confident that the NGA’s continued presence in the city of ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ will strengthen our community as they execute their mission of keeping our country safe in their proposed state-of-the-art facility in north ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½.
Otis Williams is executive director of the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Development Corp.
