From the website of Josh Hawley, US Senator for Missouri yesterday:
Our state just passed a major milestone. The federal government has now paid out more than $100 million to the Missouri families poisoned by their government’s reckless handling of nuclear waste. Nothing can make up for the pain and suffering that radiation survivors have endured at the hands of their own government. But this compensation, made possible by the expanded Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA), provides a measure of relief— and a measure of justice. The application window is still open, and my office stands ready to assist survivors with their claims.
Missourians from across the St. Louis region who have received RECA compensation – often a lump sum payment of $50,000 – have shared their experiences with my office. One constituent from St. Charles wrote to me recently to describe the difference RECA has made in her life: “The RECA payment is helping with paying for my cancer treatment that Medicare doesn’t cover. I am no longer so stressed knowing I have the extra money so when I do finally leave this Earth, I hopefully won’t leave my husband with a boatload of debt for my cancer care.” Another from Warrenton called it “a true blessing to my income to comfortably live out my final years.” Survivors have waited a long time for this relief.
Tens of thousands more are eligible for RECA compensation. Missourians who have lived, worked, or attended school near Coldwater Creek or Weldon Spring in the St. Louis metro area may qualify for compensation.
This is the second such announcement from the USA:
From 6 News in Tennessee, USA, in April 2026:
For decades, communities in Anderson, Morgan, and Roane counties have lived in the shadow of nuclear sites, now, help is finally here for those impacted. A federal program has come to East Tennessee, offering compensation to people diagnosed with cancer linked to radiation exposure.
Watch the video in full at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euLZm6uyPsQ
Why this area? From the Tennessee Environmental Council:
Most Tennesseans think of Oak Ridge when radioactive issues are mentioned, but Tennessee is actually a major player when it comes to disposing of radioactive waste, with processors across the state:
Up to 75% of all low level radioactive waste produced in the nation ends up in Tennessee for processing.
In 2010, fifty-million pounds of low level radioactive waste was processed in Tennessee.
Under Tennessee law, low level radioactive waste may be put into municipal landfills. These landfills are not designed for radioactive material.
Source: https://www.tectn.org/radioactive-waste-education-project.html
Cancer levels in Tennessee are higher than the national level at 457 per 100k, as opposed to 442.
https://ftp.cdc.gov/pub/publications/cancer/ccc/tennessee_ccc_plan-508.pdf
Mortality is only available at state and national level, at 170 and 149 per 100k.
https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/health/2025-notcom/Cancer-in-Tennessee-2016-2020-Annual-Report.pdf
Scotland is only 43 miles, downwind and downstream, from the most toxic nuclear waste reprocessing site in Europe, Sellafield.
The level in Scotland is 644 per 100k, 41% higher than in Tennessee.
https://www.iccp-portal.org/sites/default/files/plans/cancer-strategy-scotland-2023-2033.pdf
Mortality from cancers in Scotland is at 289 per 100k, again much higher, 70%, than in Tennessee. https://www.gov.scot/news/risk-of-dying-from-cancer-at-lowest-on-record/
I appreciate that cancer mortality is influenced by several factors, including health care but no one will tell me that it’s better in Tennessee!
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This presents a dilemma for the unionist parties and their baleful media.
With a high rate of cancers there is the opportunity to present Scotland as WORST and to blame NHS Scotland, the Scottish Government and the SNP and the Greens.
But the unionist parties want Small Modular Nuclear Reactors in Scotland, despite the fact that almost double Scotland’s energy needs are met from renewables, with the potential for much more. They also want – for willy-waving purposes – the nuclear submarine base to remain in Scotland with the issues related to decommissioning and refueling. People around these facilities are much more aware now of the associated dangers and there is likely to be strong local opposition, despite the unionists offering the carrot of ‘highly paid jobs’ and ‘doing our bit for BRITAIN’s defence!’
Despite under reporting these dangers for years, the internet means people are able to obtain information from a range of sources, so, these arguments will not have as much traction as before.
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