Missouri law requires a seller who has received a report stating the property is or was contaminated with radioactive or other hazardous material to disclose that in writing (RSMo 442.055), and federal law adds a lead paint disclosure for pre-1978 houses.
Most other buyer questions near Coldwater Creek are answered by records you can gather: the city flood portal, any Army Corps notice about your property, and your repair and insurance files. The same rules apply whether you list the house or sell it as-is.
This is general information, not legal advice. State rules vary.
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Do you have a letter from the Army Corps about your property?
Free. No obligation. You choose the closing date.
If you are selling a house near Coldwater Creek in Florissant, the disclosure question has a fairly clear answer. Missouri has one written rule aimed at contamination reports, plus the lead paint rule for older houses. The rest comes down to what you know about the house and the records you can gather.
What is Coldwater Creek, and why do buyers ask about it?
Coldwater Creek is a tributary of the Missouri River that the City of Florissant calls the city's "major geographic feature." Buyers tend to ask about two things: flooding along the creek and its tributaries, and a federal cleanup of Manhattan Project era waste along the creek corridor.
Both are tied to specific areas rather than to the whole city. The Florissant 2050 plan, adopted by the Planning and Zoning Commission in May 2022, notes that the creek "and its tributaries also have a significant floodway and floodplain."
Who runs the cleanup
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) leads the cleanup under its Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program, known as FUSRAP, with oversight from the EPA. The EPA site profile says the Corps issued the Record of Decision for the North St. Louis County Sites on September 2, 2005.
According to the same EPA page, the Corps began sampling Coldwater Creek and "properties within the 10-year flood plain" in late 2012. As of 2025, EPA reports that this sampling along about 14 miles of the creek and adjacent properties "is nearly complete." Cleanup of a property follows only if the sampling results call for it.
EPA also describes a check after the July 26, 2022 flood. The Corps took more than 280 samples from roads, culverts, playground equipment, bike paths, and fences along the creek. EPA reports the results "show that no radiological contamination above the cleanup criteria was re-deposited in the CWC floodplain by the flood water."
What the federal health agency said
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) released a final public health assessment on Coldwater Creek in April 2019. Its fact sheet states that contamination in and around the creek, "prior to remediation activities, could have increased the risk of some types of cancer in people who played or lived there."
The same fact sheet says ATSDR "supports ongoing efforts to identify and properly remediate radiological waste around Coldwater Creek." ATSDR suggests that residents and former residents share this history with their physicians. This guide stays with the sale.
What does Missouri law say a seller must disclose?
Missouri has no general statute that sets a seller disclosure form. Three written rules apply here: RSMo 442.055 for contamination reports, plus rules for known meth production and lead paint in pre-1978 houses.
The contamination report rule (RSMo 442.055)
The statute took effect August 28, 2018. It applies to any premises "to be rented, leased, sold, transferred, or conveyed." When the owner has knowledge, the owner must tell the buyer in writing that the premises "is or was previously contaminated with radioactive material or other hazardous material."
The statute defines knowledge narrowly:
"[T]he term 'knowledge' shall require the receipt by the owner, seller, landlord, or other transferor of a report stating affirmatively that the premises is or was previously contaminated with radioactive material or other hazardous material."
RSMo 442.055, Missouri's contamination disclosure statute
A knowing failure to disclose is a class A misdemeanor under the same section. Whether a particular letter or report in your files meets that definition depends on its wording. A Missouri real estate attorney can read your papers and tell you how the statute applies to them.
Meth production and lead paint
- Meth production: RSMo 442.606 requires a written disclosure when the seller knew methamphetamine was produced on the premises.
- Lead paint: The federal lead disclosure rule applies to most pre-1978 housing. Sellers provide information about known lead-based paint and hazards before the buyer signs a contract.
Lead paint matters in Florissant because of the age of the housing. The city's 2050 plan puts the median year built for all housing in Florissant at 1960.
The seller disclosure form a buyer may hand you
In the St. Louis area, an agent may use a private form from a REALTOR association, not a state form. The St. Louis REALTORS Seller's Disclosure Statement (Form 2091, January 2025 version) has a section titled "Radioactive or Hazardous Materials." It asks whether the seller has "ever received a report stating affirmatively" that the property is or was contaminated, and it points to RSMo 442.055.
The same form asks whether any part of the property is in the 100-year flood hazard area, and whether flood or other damage claims have been filed. Its note to sellers says truthful disclosure gives "the best protection against future charges" of concealing a material defect.
What you know beyond the forms
Apart from the written rules, a buyer can generally bring a claim in a Missouri court if a seller hid or misstated a known fact that mattered to the purchase. That is one reason the forms ask open questions about anything that could lower the value. A dated, written note of what you know, with copies of the papers behind it, gives the buyer the facts and gives you a record of what you shared.
How do you find out if the Army Corps sampled your property?
The Corps tells owners directly: EPA's site profile says that once sampling is completed on a property, "the USACE notifies the property owner of the property status." If you owned the house during sampling, that notice may already be in your files.
A few points can help when you read that notice:
- It covers one property. A notice describes the status of the parcel it names. It says nothing about the house next door, and a neighbor's notice says nothing about yours.
- The sampled area has its own boundary. The Corps' sampling covers the creek and properties within the 10-year floodplain, per EPA. That is a different line from FEMA's Special Flood Hazard Area, which the City of Florissant describes as the "100-year floodplain."
- Heirs may need to look. If you inherited the house, a notice may sit in a parent's papers. Our guide to selling an inherited house in Florissant covers the estate side.
If you cannot find a notice, the Corps' St. Louis District runs the FUSRAP program and is the office that sent them. EPA's site profile points readers to the Corps' FUSRAP website for status updates and community information.
Is your house in a Florissant flood zone?
You can check your Florissant flood zone for free by entering your address in the city's online Flood Risk Portal or on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center. A large share of the city is touched by mapped flood hazard: the 2050 plan reports that 21.3 percent of all parcels in Florissant are classified as Special Flood Hazard Affected.
The city's Floodplain Management page says the Flood Risk Portal is free and needs no account. Each property has a public profile showing its flood zone and documents such as an Elevation Certificate, when one is on file. You can also search the same address on the FEMA map center.
What a buyer will ask about
- Permits for past work. The city requires a Floodplain Development Permit "for any development in the SFHA" before work begins. Its list includes "Installing a new roof on your home," major repairs, grading, fences, and sheds.
- Flood insurance. The city notes that most standard homeowners policies do not cover flood damage. In the SFHA, a buyer with a federally backed mortgage must carry flood insurance.
- Water history. The St. Louis REALTORS form asks about flood and drainage problems and past claims, so a dated list of any water events helps.
Our guide to selling a house in a Columbia floodplain walks through the same map steps for Hinkson Creek.
Which map or record answers which question?
Each common buyer question about a house near Coldwater Creek has its own record and its own source. The table pairs each question with its record, so no single map is asked to answer a question it was not built for.
| Buyer's question | Record that answers it | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Is the house in a FEMA flood zone? | The zone on the effective FEMA flood map | FEMA Flood Map Service Center or the city's Flood Risk Portal |
| How high is the lowest floor? | Elevation Certificate, if one exists | Florissant Flood Risk Portal (documents on file) |
| Was work in the flood zone permitted? | Floodplain Development Permit records | City Engineer's office, 314-839-7643 |
| Did the Army Corps sample this property? | The Corps' notice of property status | USACE, after sampling on the property is complete (EPA site profile) |
| Did the seller receive a contamination report? | Any such report, disclosed in writing | Your own files (RSMo 442.055) |
| Was the house built before 1978? | Year built and the lead paint disclosure | Property records; EPA lead disclosure rule |
| Is the ZIP code on the RECA list? | DOJ's list of Missouri ZIP codes | DOJ RECA page (eligibility is about people, not houses) |
A seller's record checklist
These six items cover most of what a Florissant buyer, agent, or title company asks to see.
Flood zone printout
The zone for your address from the city's Flood Risk Portal or the FEMA map, saved with the date you looked it up.
Elevation Certificate
Downloaded from the city portal if one is on file. It helps an insurer rate the house on its real floor height.
Army Corps notice
Any letter from the Corps about the status of your property after sampling, kept in full with its date.
Other environmental reports
Any report you received about the property's soil or condition. RSMo 442.055 governs reports of contamination.
Water and repair history
Dates of any water entry, insurance claims, contractor invoices, and floodplain or building permits for the work.
Lead paint records
For a house built before 1978, any lead test or abatement records, plus the EPA pamphlet the buyer receives.
Does the federal RECA program involve your house?
RECA, a federal radiation compensation law, is run by the Department of Justice as a program for people. Its Missouri ZIP code list describes where a person lived, worked, or went to school, and the DOJ page does not mention property ownership or title.
According to the DOJ RECA page, RECA was reauthorized by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Pub. L. 119-21, on July 4, 2025. The Manhattan Project waste category lists Missouri ZIP codes that include 63031, 63033, and 63034. A person must have been "physically present for at least 2 years after January 1, 1949" in a listed area and later diagnosed with a disease the program names.
The DOJ page says all claims "must be filed by December 31, 2027." Two points can matter to a seller:
- Eligibility is about the person. DOJ ties eligibility to a person's presence and diagnosis, so its page gives no sign that a sale passes it to a buyer or ends it for you.
- Old papers can prove residence. DOJ lists "proof of residence" during a qualifying period among the supporting documents. Some families set aside old deeds, tax bills, or utility statements before clearing out a house.
Questions about a claim go to the DOJ RECA program, whose page lists its claim forms and mailing address.
Should you list or sell as-is near Coldwater Creek?
Both paths are open, and the disclosure rules are the same on each: RSMo 442.055 applies to any premises "sold, transferred, or conveyed," whoever the buyer is. The choice usually turns on the flood zone, the condition of the house, and how much time you have.
Listing with an agent
A listing tends to suit a house in good repair with clean records. A financed buyer in the SFHA will need flood insurance, so the quote becomes part of the deal. Bringing the checklist above to the first meeting lets the agent fill in the disclosure form accurately.
Selling as-is
The City of Florissant says on its occupancy inspection page that a property "can be sold without an inspection, 'as is'." The buyer then obtains the inspection and occupancy permit before anyone moves in. Our Florissant occupancy permit guide explains that step.
Propcash is a direct cash buyer that buys houses as-is and signs the purchase contract as the buyer. You hand over the same written disclosures and records you would give any buyer, and Propcash can review them with the flood zone and recent local sales. A closing can happen in as few as 7 days after the contract is signed, on a date you choose.
Propcash makes one written offer and explains how it got to the number, with no fees or commissions to Propcash. To compare it with a listing, you can get a cash offer or start on our Florissant cash buyer page. If the house is empty, our guide to selling a vacant house in Florissant covers the city's registration rules.
Common questions about selling near Coldwater Creek
Does an Army Corps sampling notice count as a contamination report under Missouri law?
It depends on what the notice says. RSMo 442.055 defines knowledge as receiving a report "stating affirmatively" that the premises is or was contaminated with radioactive or other hazardous material. A Missouri real estate attorney can read the notice and say how the statute applies to it.
Can you sell a Florissant house near Coldwater Creek as-is?
Yes. The City of Florissant says a property can be sold without an inspection, "as is," and the buyer then gets the inspection and occupancy permit before anyone moves in. The written disclosure rules, including RSMo 442.055 and the federal lead paint rule, apply to an as-is sale the same way they apply to any sale.
Is the Army Corps 10-year floodplain the same as the FEMA flood zone?
No. EPA reports that the Corps samples Coldwater Creek and properties within the 10-year floodplain. The FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area is a different boundary, which the City of Florissant describes as the 100-year floodplain, and it drives flood insurance and floodplain permits.
What share of Florissant parcels are in mapped flood hazard areas?
The Florissant 2050 Comprehensive Plan, adopted in May 2022, reports that 21.3 percent of all parcels in Florissant are classified as Special Flood Hazard Affected. That is a citywide share. The zone for one house comes from the city's free Flood Risk Portal or FEMA's Flood Map Service Center.
Does RECA eligibility pass to the person who buys the house?
The Department of Justice describes RECA eligibility in terms of a person's presence in a listed ZIP code for at least two years after January 1, 1949, and a later diagnosis. Its page does not tie eligibility to owning a property. Claims must be filed by December 31, 2027, according to DOJ.
Does selling to a cash buyer change what you have to disclose?
No. Missouri's written disclosure rules apply to the sale itself, not to the type of buyer, and RSMo 442.055 covers any premises sold, transferred, or conveyed. A cash buyer such as Propcash receives the same disclosures and records a financed buyer would.
Reviewed by the Propcash Editorial Team under our editorial standards. Published by Propcash, a direct cash buyer of houses. This guide is general information. Laws, fees, and market figures change, so check the current rules for your state.
