Turning the tide at Tar Creek: Major environmental cleanup underway at one of America’s most toxic sites

Groups unite to restore Tar Creek Superfund site

OKLAHOMA CITY – A powerful alliance of state, local and federal forces is breathing new life into one of the most dangerous environmental areas in the country – the Tar Creek Superfund site in northeast Oklahoma. Leading the charge: the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), with support from the Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES).

This joint effort marks a major step forward in removing toxic contamination that has impacted Ottawa County for decades. With support from OMES Construction and Properties, DEQ continues to remove dangerous contamination from Ottawa County neighborhoods affected by lead, zinc and cadmium pollution. DEQ has pushed forward with an ambitious plan to clean up the site, restore the land and protect local families from ongoing health risks.

Stretching across the Tri-State Mining District – including parts of Kansas and Missouri – the Tar Creek site tells a story of industrial boom and environmental fallout. Mined extensively for lead and zinc from the 1870s to the 1970s, the area was left littered with hundreds of millions of tons of toxic mining waste, known as chat.

This hazardous material, used for years in road construction and fill dirt, remains scattered across neighborhoods, playgrounds and schools – putting residents at risk of serious health consequences, including brain damage, nervous system disorders and kidney disease. In fact, a study from 1994 found blood lead levels in local children to be three times higher than the peak levels measured during Flint, Michigan’s water crisis.

“The cleanup of Tar Creek is long overdue, and I’m proud to see real progress being made,” said Sen. Micheal Bergstrom, R-District 1. “Together, we are restoring hope to the families of Ottawa County. We owe it to our communities to make this right, and I’m committed to supporting these efforts every step of the way.”

“The Tar Creek cleanup continues to be a priority for my district,” said Rep. Steve Bashore, R-House District 7, majority deputy floor leader. “I'm hopeful the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality and its partners can make real progress on making this site safe for future generations. As someone who has spent my career bringing people together to solve tough problems, I know this effort is key to restoring northeast Oklahoma as a place people want to live, work and invest in again.”

“It does help the community of Miami and Commerce kind of redevelop some of these properties, so that is a small economic driver in the area,” said Brian Stanila, DEQ environmental programs manager. “We use all local contractors, so all the money that we're spending cleaning these properties up is going right back into the community.”

In the 1980s, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) added the Tar Creek site to the Superfund National Priorities List, which recognizes sites that pose significant potential health risks. Since taking over remediation duties from the EPA in 2016, DEQ has made tangible strides. More than 650 properties have been tested and 125 remediated from contamination – but with over 13,000 residential lots in the county, the work is far from done.

DEQ’s voluntary cleanup program offers free yard sampling and remediation services to Ottawa County residents. Interested homeowners can visit the DEQ website to learn how to get involved and help make their communities safer.

To aid in this complex and large-scale effort, OMES provides contracted construction services to address the area’s unique needs and help safely remove more than 30 million tons of chat with the goal of restoring the land for future use. OMES proudly commends its DEQ partners for leading the charge to decontaminate Ottawa County residential properties and make Oklahoma communities cleaner and safer places to live.

“This is more than just cleanup – it’s a commitment to future generations,” said Nathan Wald, OMES Capital Assets Management administrator. “Projects like Tar Creek prove what’s possible when state agencies and partners work together toward a common goal. We’re proud to stand with DEQ and the people of Ottawa County in this vital mission.”

Christa Helfrey
christa.helfrey@omes.ok.gov

The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is responsible for keeping drinking water safe, outdoor air clean, and Oklahoma land clean and productive. DEQ is committed to partnering with local communities, businesses and citizens to identify and implement protective and cost-effective environmental solutions. For more information, visit oklahoma.gov/deq.

The Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES) provides financial, property, purchasing, human resources and information technology services to all state agencies, and assists the Governor’s Office with budgetary policy matters. Our mission: Provide excellent service, expert guidance and continuous improvement in support of our partners’ goals. For more information, visit oklahoma.gov/omes.