Tar Creek Superfund - Picher, OK
N 36° 58.579 W 094° 50.399
15S E 336226 N 4093827
Tar Creek Superfund Site in Picher, OK
Waymark Code: WM14EFN
Location: Oklahoma, United States
Date Posted: 06/23/2021
Views: 3
Tar Creek declared a US Superfund site in 1983, is in Ottawa Co. OK cities of Picher and Cardin. From 1900 - the 1960s, lead and zinc mining companies left open, contaminated chat piles. Metals from the mining waste leached into the soil and groundwater. Elevated lead, zinc and manganese levels in Picher children led to learning disabilities and other health problems. The EPA declared Picher one of the most toxic areas in the US.
The OK Quapaw Tribe owned the area and leased it to mining companies. Government rules restricted Quapaw landowners from earning money from royalties, which companies paid on these leases. The people have suffered high miscarriage rates and neurological damage to children.
The Tar Creek Superfund site is the Oklahoma section of four National Priority List (NPL) Superfund sites that encompass the Tri-State mining district, an old lead and zinc mining district divided by the EPA into the Tar Creek Site.
In 2021, Tar Creek was listed by American Rivers as one of the ten most endangered rivers in America due to contamination from the Superfund Site.
ID: OKD980629844
Site Name: Tar Creek Superfund
Link to Site: [Web Link]
Additional Parking: Not Listed
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