Perspectives from the Regional Administrator

Mayor Greene hosts Assistant Administrator Tom Dunne

Regional Administrator Richard Greene met with USEPA Acting Assistant Administrator TomDunne to highlight the Region's progress in restoring polluted land and protecting the security of America. Dunne oversees the EPA Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response.

Special attention was given to the region's activities at the Tar Creek Superfund site. Good progress is being made toward completion of the fieldwork needed to complete the Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study, and to address the chat piles in the area.

In addition to discussing Tar Creek, the group discussed regional progress and project status in many areas, including Superfund and Brownfields site revitalization, Ready-for-Reuse, Emergency Preparedness and Superfund response preparations, state capabilities in emergency response, managing removal projects, and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) activities.

Committee on Senate Environment and Public Works hearing on EPA 2006 Budget
Statement of Senator James M. Inhofe, February 9, 2005

The Tar Creek Superfund Site in northeastern Oklahoma has been a top priority for me and the EPA. When Administrator Leavitt visited the site with me, he became the first Cabinet level official to tour Tar Creek and see what we are dealing with there. Tar Creek is a 40 square-mile site that is the number one listed site on the National Priorities List. While, much work has been done and much credit goes to the EPA and specifically the Region 6 Administrator, Richard Greene, there is more work left to do. I want to take this opportunity to get the EPA`s continued commitment to protect human health at Tar Creek and get this site cleaned up.

EPA Co-hosts Community Meeting at Tar Creek

The Environmental Protection Agency, the US Army Corps of Engineers, and the Department of Interior, in coordination with the State of Oklahoma, hosted a community meeting and open house to present the collaborative efforts taking place toward a holistic solution for the Tar Creek area.

The meeting highlighted projects coordinated between the federal agencies, state and local partners, the University of Oklahoma, and the Quapaw Tribe.

The open house was an opportunity for community members to learn more about these and other local activities and services, as well as participate in one-on-one discussions with agency, tribal, and organization members.

Public meeting notice March 2004

Project Update - March 2004

Guest Commentary for Joplin Globe - March 2004

EPA, Interior, Army, to Work Together in Removing Health Risks at Tar Creek, Oklahoma

The 40 square mile Tar Creek Superfund Site in northeastern Oklahoma is part of the 1,188 square mile historic zinc and lead mines known as the Tri-State Mining District in Missouri, Kansas, and Oklahoma. The district's historic lead and zinc production ranks as one of the highest in the world, with total ore production estimated to have been slightly more the 0.5 billion short tons, with production high during World War II. Mining began in the early 1900's and continued until the 1960's. The by-products of the mining operation were highly acidic mine water and large amounts of discarded mine and mill tailings, discarded in chat piles or settling ponds. The principle pollutants are lead, cadmium, and zinc, and chat was freely used and placed throughout the area by individuals and municipal and county agencies. There are approximately 30,000 people residing in the area, and most of the land on the Tar Creek site is allotted Indian Land.

On May 1, 2003, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the U.S. Department of the Interior and the U.S. Department of the Army to develop and implement solutions to the human health and environmental threats posed by the Tar Creek site. The MOU gives the federal agencies the opportunity to coordinate with the affected Indian tribes, the State of Oklahoma, local communities, and other stakeholders in determining the most effective manner for resolving the issues at this site.

At the present time, the EPA is the only entity that has actually accomplished results at the Tar Creek site. The EPA is directly responsible for progress through its yard remediation, community education, and blood lead testing programs. Approximately 1,780 residential properties have been remediated. As a result, there has been a 50 percent decrease (24 percent to 12 percent) in the number of children with blood lead levels equal to or greater than the 10ug/dL standard set by the Center for Disease Control. This is a notable and meaningful protection provided to the children, who we must remember are most at risk. And, we fully expect to see an even larger decrease when the county blood lead data is analyzed again in the spring of 2004. EPA continues to be intricately involved in the work being done to improve the health of the Tar Creek residents.

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