Homes Demolished Due to Radioactive Waste in Missouri

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers removes residential structures to complete remediation of contaminated soil.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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Multiple homes in a Missouri neighborhood have been demolished by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers due to concerns over radioactive waste contamination. Decades ago, radioactive waste from the Manhattan Project leaked into Coldwater Creek, and the affected homes were built on a past curve of the creek. Soil sampling found contamination in the yards of six houses, with levels down 2.5 to 17 feet, exceeding the threshold requiring removal.

Why it matters

This is a rare case where the U.S. government has had to demolish residential structures to address radioactive contamination from past nuclear activities. The incident highlights the ongoing environmental legacy of the Manhattan Project and the challenges communities face in dealing with historical nuclear waste issues.

The details

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is set to take down at least five more structures by the end of the week. The Corps stated the contamination did not pose an immediate risk, but the radiation levels exceeded the threshold requiring removal. "We could not safely remediate and remove all the contamination that we needed to without the homes being out of the way," said Phil Moser of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

  • The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been removing contaminated soil from the area since 1997.
  • The homes were demolished in February 2026.

The players

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

The federal agency responsible for the demolition and remediation of the contaminated homes.

Lt. Col. Andrew James

A representative of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers who spoke to the media about the demolition.

Phil Moser

A representative of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers who spoke to the media about the demolition.

Ann Havens

A neighbor who expressed empathy for the affected homeowners.

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What they’re saying

“This is one of the first times that we actually had to remove residential structures to complete the remediation.”

— Lt. Col. Andrew James, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (KMOV/CNN/CNN Newsource)

“We could not safely remediate and remove all the contamination that we needed to without the homes being out of the way.”

— Phil Moser, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (KMOV/CNN/CNN Newsource)

“It's heart wrenching because I feel their pain. We're a close-knit neighborhood.”

— Ann Havens, Neighbor (KMOV/CNN/CNN Newsource)

What’s next

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plans to demolish at least five more structures by the end of the week as part of the ongoing remediation efforts.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing environmental challenges communities face in dealing with historical nuclear waste issues, and the difficult decisions government agencies must make to protect public safety, even if it means demolishing residential structures.