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JEFFERSON CITY, MO - The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) is hosting a meeting on November 15 for the public to submit comments in regards to the release of the public comment version of the Bridgeton Public Health Consultation. The meeting will be held at the Bridgeton Banquet Center, 12259 Natural Bridge Road, Bridgeton, MO 63044.

The DHSS public meeting will begin with an availability session that has a come and go format from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.  A presentation will follow starting at 6:30 p.m., which will last approximately 30 minutes, and the meeting will conclude with time for community comments until close at 8:30 p.m.

Bridgeton Landfill is a solid waste landfill located within the boundaries of the West Lake Landfill in the Greater St. Louis metropolitan area. Sub-surface smoldering at the landfill resulted in increased gas and odor emissions from the landfill. DHSS evaluated air data collected near Bridgeton Landfill in Bridgeton, MO, to determine the potential impacts of landfill gas emissions on people's health. The evaluated air data were collected by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from 2013 to 2016. Today the data show that chemical and odor detections have been substantially reduced. 

\"While the formal scientific review of the data is the basis of this report, we want to ensure that it is written in a way that clearly presents that science to the community,\" said Jonathan Garoutte, Administrator of the DHSS Section for Environmental Public Health. \"Getting direct feedback from the community helps ensure that our messages are clear.  We believe that the public health consultation, and the science behind it, distinctly shows a positive improvement in the air quality around the landfill.\"

DHSS encourages people to read the Bridgeton Landfill Health Consultation document, make written comments, and come to the public meeting. DHSS released the health consultation for public comment on September 21^st. The public comment period is open for 60 days from September 21 through November 20, 2018.  The document may be viewed at health.mo.gov/bridgeton or at the St. Louis Public Library, Bridgeton Trails Branch, 3455 McKelvey Rd, Bridgeton, MO. Written public comments may be sent by email to BridgetonComments@health.mo.gov or postal mail to Lorena Locke, Bureau of Environmental Epidemiology, Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, P.O. Box 570, Jefferson City, MO, 65102. Comments need to be submitted or postmarked by November 20, 2018.

About the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services: The department seeks to be the leader in protecting health and keeping people safe. More information about DHSS can be found at health.mo.gov or find us on Facebook or Twitter @HealthyLivingMO.