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St. Charles County has become a hub for residents seeking compensation due to illnesses linked to radiation exposure, with hundreds now applying for aid under the expanded Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA). According to a statement on the St. Charles County official website, over 400 individuals from four specific zip codes have sought to make claims since Congress included their areas in July. Those zip codes recognized by the legislation, designed to address contamination from the Cold War nuclear program, include locations close to the EPA Superfund site in Weldon Spring. The site, once a uranium refinery run by Mallinckrodt Chemical Company, has a history that whispers of the nation's fraught engagement with atomic energy. Residents must prove their residency within the 63367, 63368, 63341, and 63304 zip codes to be eligible for compensation. However, one town hall held on Oct. 14 was packed by more than 300 people, demonstrating the community's engagement with the issue and the need for support. County Executive Steve Ehlmann is on record saying, "We’re going to make it as easy as we can for people to get the information they need from the County to apply for this federal program," as mentioned on the St. Charles County website. Documents required for RECA applications can be requested through the County’s RECA webpage. Cooperation is a critical theme as local offices, including the County Recorder of Deeds and Election Authority, lean in to aid residents. During a town hall meeting, organized by U.S. Senator Josh Hawley and hosted by State Representative Tricia Byrnes, the legislative craftsman behind the law expansion, Byrnes looked out at the crowd and expressed a deep concern for the community. "I saw people who either have lost loved ones or they’re battling health problems themselves," Byrnes told the assembly. The success of these initiatives lies not just in the law itself but also in the community's response to it, with Byrnes noting that many initially overwhelmed individuals now "feel empowered to fill out the application by themselves," as per the St. Charles County website. Observers at the town hall could watch videos on the City-County Library's YouTube channel to gain further insight into the RECA application process.
