http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kcur/local-kcur-897791.mp3
Kansas City, Mo. – People worried about health safety at the Bannister Road Federal Complex in Kansas City brought their concerns to a hearing last night sponsored by the Jackson County Executive. Many are convinced chemicals and metals caused cancers and respiratory illness. And they blame toxins used at the plant where non nuclear components for nuclear weapons were built for decades.
While there have been multiple investigations, increasing in the last year, many of those attending were not satisfied, as The Kansas City Star reports passioned complaints of illness and death among family members.
There is a continuing dispute over which federal agency has cleanup responsbility for pollution at the site which is now for sale. A petition asks the EPA conduct a complete investigation of the complex. One of the sponsors of the petition is Physicians for Social Responsibility. Ann Suellentrop speaks for the local chapter of the organization and believes there is a 'Cold War' mentality still in place-- "There's a lot of secrecy behind it. People that worked at the plant weren't informed what they were working on, what materials they were working with. They couldn't even tell their own families."
The Sierra Club is also circulating the petition which suggests toxins have bled into area creeks and rivers.