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Thursday, December 11, 2003

The Environmental Protection Agency has announced the signing of a consent decree affecting the Tar Creek Superfund site in northeastern Oklahoma.

The agreement is between the EPA, the Department of Interior and two mining companies. The parties have agreed to "coordinate" the cleanup of mine waste in Tar Creek. The consent decree doesn't actually perform the cleanup but focuses on "identifying and selecting potential cleanup methods."

Tar Creek is one of the worst toxic sites in the nation. It contains about 70 million tons of mine waste, known as chat. Most of the chat is located on land owned by individual Indians and members of the Quapaw Tribe.

Chat contains high levels of lead, which is especially dangerous to children.

Get the Story:
EPA announces cleanup agreement (AP 12/11)
Tar Creek Agreement Reached (EPA 12/9)

Relevant Links:
Tar Creek Information Site - http://www.tarcreek.org
Tar Creek, State of Oklahoma - http://www.deq.state.ok.us/LPDnew/Tarcreek

Related Stories:
Plan outlined to clean up Tar Creek waste site (11/21)
Quapaw Tribe to sue mining companies for cleanup (08/18)
Costs for cleaning Tar Creek waste increase (08/04)
Okla. governor supports Tar Creek cleanup plan (07/02)
Editorial: Keep options on Tar Creek open (06/19)
Inhofe wants $45M for Tar Creek cleanup (05/15)
Funds sought for study of Tar Creek site (5/14)
Relocation option removed from Tar Creek report (05/08)
Carson promises Tar Creek proposal will be his last (5/5)
Legislation would buy out Tar Creek residents (5/2)
Congressman says Tar Creek report being held up (4/28)
Battle to clean up Tar Creek turns partisan (03/20)
Study confirms health dangers of Tar Creek (3/19)
Okla. governor threatens suit over waste cleanup (02/26)
White House to release Tar Creek study (09/13)
Okla. adds waste clean up official (8/27)
EPA removing Tar Creek employee (8/15)
Senate panel questions Superfund status (8/1)
EPA changes mind on Superfund funds (7/22)
Bush cutting cleanup funds for Okla. site (7/2)
EPA criticized for Superfund cuts (7/2)
EPA cleanup funds being slashed (7/1)
Tar Creek mold confirmed (4/23)
Head of EPA urged to visit Okla. site (9/11)
BIA aiding cleanup of Okla. site (9/7)
End of mine waste moratorium praised (8/30)
Sale of mine waste cleared for Okla. Tribe (8/22)

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