We did it! RECA has passed and was signed in to law. We will now be downwinders!!!
We know the bill it was attached to brings a lot to process. But for our CommUnity, this is long-overdue justice finally breaking through.
Dawn and Karen are shifting gears and will be working to get the application process as streamlined as possible. We have already been in meetings with local stakeholders. Our new RECA website will be live within the next couple of weeks.
For now, here is the information about RECA with the zip codes, covered illnesses, and compensations.
🗺️ Missouri Communities Recognized Under RECA – 2025 Expansion
The July 2025 expansion of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) brings long-overdue recognition to numerous Missouri communities impacted by radioactive contamination.
🧬 Why These Areas Matter 🧬
Many of these areas share ZIP codes newly deemed eligible under RECA due to their proximity to radioactive waste sites such as Coldwater Creek, West Lake Landfill, and historical transport routes from the Downtown St. Louis Mallinckrodt and Weldon Spring Uranium Processing sites. While some locations are confirmed in legislative documents, others remain under review—highlighting the urgency for continued advocacy, documentation, and community mobilization to ensure full inclusion and support.
Stay tuned as Just Moms is working hard to make this program accessible and easy to apply for. Please stay tuned. We are setting up meetings right now with DOJ to make this happen. Don’t forget to visit the Facebook sites: West Lake Landfill and Just Moms STL.
How do I register for this? My husband died of Neuroendocrine pancreatic cancer in 2009. He used to play in the creek by his house in the 63135 zip code.
Hi Carla,
Sorry for the delayed response. We are sorry for the loss of your husband. The Claim form for the Manhattan Waste Program is found on the Department of Justice website https://www.justice.gov/civil/reca Just make sure to use the Manhattan Project Waste claim form. You can file a paper or electronic claim.
If you have additional questions, you can find help for Cold Water Creek, West Lake Landfill, Weldon Springs or the St. Louis downtown site on the Just Moms STL Facebook page West Lake Landfill at https://www.facebook.com/groups/508327822519437
Just Moms STL
I lived in the 63138 zip code for 25 years from 1962-1987. Went to St. Aloysious on Larimore then Rosary High School. My family farmed the land by the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers and we ate that food,and drank from underground wells. I now have stage 2b ovarian cancer. They removed with a full hysterectomy a 7-inch tumor that was pressing against my bladder. I have had surgery and now am going through chemotherapy. I have 2 friends that lived a couple miles away from me in the same zip code with breast cancer, and they know of several others that went to public schools but that they knew of in the neighborhood with other cancers. Is there a range of dates that we will still be considered accepted?
I am so sorry to hear of your cancer diagnosis. It’s just overwhelming all the people that have been affected by this. You have to have lived, worked, or had gone to school in one of the approved zip codes for at least two years. From 1949-present. The program will expire end of 2027, however, reca has been extended many times and that is our goal to keep this program alive for as long as we need it.
Father had male beast & died of pancreatic cancer. Please keep us updated.
Please keep checking our website for updates! We will let everyone know as soon as we know the application is ready! Thank you for reaching out!
My husband began working full time at McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) in Hazelwood MO on 8/14/1961. He was there for 35 years and was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia last September. He just passed away a few weeks ago on June 6. Because he was 18 years old when he first began working there, is he outside the parameters for being included?
Hi Mrs. Sullivan,
We are so sorry for your loss.
We are having those with questions, such as yours contact the Department of Justice RECA team to advise if your husband would be covered or not by the RECA program. Please advise them when you call that you are checking to see if your husband qualifies under the Manhattan Project Waste for Missouri.
Please call us toll-free at 1-800-729-7327.
Representatives are available Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 4:00pm Central Standard Time to answer questions about the application process.
Most have found it better to call in the morning, however, you may not get through on the first try.
Just Moms STL
There is a RECA application listed on a Channel 5 article titled RECA Manhattan Project Waste Claim Form. is that the correct application to use for Missouri?
Just to be sure, here is the link to our website. You can download the application and print it from here.
https://reca-missouri-resources.org/
At one of your meetings you mentioned there is a specific application for those affected in North County. Is this RECA Manhattan Project Waste Claim Form the correct one to use for North County?
What type of forms would you use for the north County Coldwater Creek radiation I just had a sister passed away in August would be a year ago from multiple myeloma Her son passed away 1998 brain cancer. My father passed away in 1998 from Parkinson dementia my mother just passed away from dementia too. Neither one has anyone in their family with dementia . Could this be related to the radiation exposure? And where can you locate these forms to fill them out? Thank you so much.
Hi Debra:
Sorry for the delayed response and for the impact this has had on your family. While we know of the impact from the cancer’s, we don’t know if dementia is related or not.
If you have not found the forms, you can find them via the https://reca-missouri-resources.org/ website which has information to help with questions. The DOJ Website also now has a portal to submit claims. Just make sure you are filling out the Manhattan Project Waste form. https://www.justice.gov/civil/reca
If you have questions, it always available on the Just Moms Facebook page West Lake Landfill (covers Cold Water Creek and West Lake Landfill). https://www.facebook.com/groups/508327822519437
Just Moms STL
I don’t see 63121 on your list, the Normandy area. It is on other lists. It is on the county liest. I hope you correct this on your site. thank you
This has been corrected. Thank you.
I don’t see 63121 on your list, the Normandy area. It is on other lists. It is on the county list. I hope you correct this on your site. thank you
This has been corrected. Thank you.
How can you connect someone, my grandpa, uncle’s, my mom and now I have it
Hi Amy,
The connection for our area is the Manhattan Project Waste if you lived, worked or went to school in any of the 21 impacted zip codes. We have meet with community members who have had impacts to the entire family.
If you have further questions, please contact us at westlakemoms@gmail.com or on our Facebook page West Lake Landfill (which covers both Cold Water Creek and West Lake Landfill) https://www.facebook.com/groups/508327822519437
Thank you.
I am eligible based on the criteria for compensation but I have a question. On the form that I filled out, page 15 top of form ask for a claim number. Is this number required to submit the form? If so, where do I obtain this number?
Hi. Sorry for the delayed response. The Claim # field on page 15 will be added by the Department of Justice once the claim has been issued and claim #. Thanks
63136 and 63137 should be covered. Lots of cases in those zip codes because of contamination in Moline (Maline) Creek
Hi. This is being reviewed and any documentation you might be able to provide to the office of Senator Josh Hawley would be great. Contact Information
RECA Hotline: 202-228-4388 Thank you.
My family lived in the 63121 area in the mid 1950s through 1990s. I am helping one brother in completing his application (esophagus, lung and bone cancers), we are waiting for the documentation from his doctors. I have had cervical cancer twice and have read numerous articles that there is a movement to have more illnesses/diseases included in RECA, as well as autoimmune diseases/conditions. Can you give me more information? Thank you
Hi Rebecca: I am sorry to hear of your families battles with Cancer. On your question on future cancers being added to RECA, please contact Josh Hawley’s office via their hot line number and they will add your information to the list of data they are collecting. Senator Josh Hawley Contact Information – RECA Hotline: 202-228-4388
I grew up in Florissant just parallel to North Lindbergh
My first 18 years was spent in an apartment
About 100-150 yards from Coldwater Creek that runs behind Dierbergs and Ride along where the valley of flowers is held every year.
I was diagnosed with renal cancer July 2017 a month before my 40th birthday July 2018 I was diagnosed again with some that had spread to my adrenal glands I had those removed I’m now adrenal insufficient but I’m also just now 7 years in remission I played in that Creek as a child multiple times I used to follow it and explore it it runs underneath Lindbergh and then up in the St Ferdinand Park and then up where there by Greenway Chase after that I don’t know
We lived in Florissant for 4 years 73-77 ish….My dad passed away from bladder cancer in 2011 but I can’t find documentation of him living in Florissant. I know our address but it was pre computers so no online. Any ideas?
Thanks
Please check with the St. Louis County Public Library. The Headquarters on Lindbergh in Frontenac has a Great genealogy department that can help you with locating this information and are very helpful with guiding to resources on site.
Or
They have a website slcl.org/reca where you can fill out what data you are looking to find. It is at that bottom of the page under:
Residency Documentation Lookup Request
We will look up information to support RECA residency using library resources and free online resources. Due to research limitations, we may not be able to fulfill all lookup requests.
Yes Is CLL Cancer Covered Now by RECA? Please let me know Thank You
Hi Mr. Moeckel.
Yes, chronic lymphocytic leukemia is covered by RECA (provided the initial exposure occurred after age 20 and the onset of the disease was at least 2 years after the first exposure) and you either lived, worked or went to school in one of the 21 eligible zip codes.
Just Moms STL