ST. LOUIS—Several months after it said it had found potential sources of odor that have been the cause for complaints about air quality in South St. Louis, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will brief residents and answer questions at a pair of community meetings Wednesday.

What You Need To Know

  • Wednesday's meetings with EPA representatives are scheduled for 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. at the Lemp Neighborhood Arts Center 3301 Lemp Ave, St. Louis 

  • The meetings are a chance to ask questions and hear an EPA presentation, but a spokesperson said the agency will not be publicly identifying potential sources of odors which have plagued South St. Louis residents for years

  • A May 2023 EPA letter to U.S. Rep. Cori Bush, D-St. Louis said the agency had identified potential sources

  • An EPA spokesperson told Spectrum News it would continue to evaluate air quality data and take undescribed further action. "This isn't the end," the spokesperson said

But an agency spokesperson told Spectrum News that it won’t be identifying those sources by name.

In April, U.S. Rep. Cori Bush, D-St. Louis asked for an EPA investigation after she said community members had described odors as “acrid, burning iPhones… burning herbicides and metallic,” and noticeable for years

In a letter dated May 2, the EPA said based on earlier complaints it had finished air sampling in five of the seven neighborhoods Bush said she’d received complaints from, including Mt. Pleasant, Gravois Park, Marine Villa, Lafayette Square and Soulard.

“As is typical with these types of studies, this initial sampling was conducted at the screening level, and the purpose was to try to narrow the number of potentially responsible sources. Based on the results, we have identified several sources for investigation,” EPA Regional Administrator Meg McCollister wrote to Bush. 

Wednesday’s meetings, both held at the Lemp Neighborhood Arts Center, 3301 Lemp Ave. St. Louis, are billed as a chance to meet with EPA officials to share concerns, hear an EPA presentation and then have a question-and-answer period.

An EPA spokesperson said Wednesday that “this isn’t the end,” when it comes to the agency’s involvement, and that it would continue to monitor data, and potentially take further steps.

EPA Meeting schedule

  • 1st Meeting:

    • 2 to 3 p.m. – Availability Session to hear general air quality concerns and answer related questions.

    • 3 to 3:30 p.m. – EPA presentation.

    • 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. – Question-and-Answer Session and general availability.

  • 2nd Meeting: 

    • 5 to 6 p.m. – Availability Session to hear general air quality concerns and answer related questions.

    • 6 to 6:30 p.m. – EPA presentation.

    • 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. – Question-and-Answer Session and general availability.