subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite map
Sat, Nov 21 2009 

Published August 17, 2009 09:59 pm - It is about time that Uncle Sam started taking notice of the legacy left by lead and zinc mining in the Treece, Kan., area. Similar environmental issues that triggered the government’s voluntary buyout of homes and businesses in Picher, Okla., exist around the tiny Kansas town.

In our view: The lesson of Tar Creek



It is about time that Uncle Sam started taking notice of the legacy left by lead and zinc mining in the Treece, Kan., area. Similar environmental issues that triggered the government’s voluntary buyout of homes and businesses in Picher, Okla., exist around the tiny Kansas town.

At the urging of two U.S. senators and a congresswoman, all from Kansas, the Environmental Protection Agency will be sending three of its top officials to take a look this week at the extent of damage left by mining operations covering 115 square miles of Cherokee County.

What they find, we suspect, will be reminiscent of the Tar Creek Superfund site that the EPA spent decades and more than $100 million trying to correct before finally deciding the mountains of contaminated chat and the potential for subsidence were dangers requiring a buyout of property owners.

We base that belief on the EPA experience in the Picher and Cardin, Okla., communities.

Soil reclamation attempts by the EPA in the Picher and Cardin area were quickly reversed by winds carrying heavy metal-laden dust back into yards, leaving them as contaminated as before.

Heavy rains sent groundwater pouring into the abandoned mines and produced red-tinged waters in Tar Creek that eventually flowed into Grand Lake.

But what finally tweaked the federal agency’s interest in a voluntary buyout was the danger that homes, businesses, schools and people might begin dropping into collapsing abandoned mines.

Sen. Pat Roberts made a comparison between Treece and Picher to the EPA: “Once you visit this town, and compare it to Picher, you can better understated the frustration of residents. Once the EPA sees firsthand the long-term damage and safety concerns facing the people of Treece, hopefully they will agree more assistance is critically needed beyond cleanup.”

The lesson of Tar Creek is that cleaning up the mess left by the mining companies is a slow, difficult process made even agonizingly slower and much more difficult by the winds, rains, an abundance of heavy metals in the huge piles of chat and the prospect of cave-ins. Picher showed that a voluntary buyout is cheaper and safer in the long run.



print this story    email this story    comment on this story   

Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.


Add a comment on this story







autoconx
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide

Announcements



Click here to VOTE!!

Click here!!

: Special Offer For New Subscribers : 32 buy 1 get 1 free offers

Click Here!




Featured Jobs

CMA
cma with insulin certification. Whispering Pines, (417)781-0099....>MORE

LOCAL YARD WORK
1ST SHIFT
We are a specialized carrier seeking an individual at our Baxter Springs, KS location. Duties include F
...>MORE

EXPERIENCED FULL TIME AUTO TECH
EXPERIENCED Full time Auto Repair Tech for very busy repair shop! Apply at Iveys Service Center, 301 E. 7th, Joplin...>MORE

BODY TECHNICIAN
Carthage AUTO PLAZA is looking for a body technician/painter. I-Car certification is required. Come by and fill out an a...>MORE

OWNER OPERATORS
with equipment for truck and trailer, drive in or reefer. 624-2755...>MORE

TRAVEL U.S.A.
TRAVEL U.S.A. Publication sales company hiring 18 sharp enthusiastic individuals to travel the U.S. Travel, training, l...>MORE

WALLER TRUCK COMPANY
Waller Truck Company is now seeking Company and Lease Drivers. Call Recruting today at 1-800-821-2196 or apply today onl...>MORE

CLASS A OVER THE ROAD DRIVERS
CLASS A OVER THE ROAD DRIVERS for team operations. Kansas City based, home weekly, all drop and hook. $.46/mile to the t...>MORE

EXPERIENCED TAX PREPARERS,
enrolled agents and CPAs. Make extra money after the holidays with very flexible scheduling and top pay working for the ...>MORE

TAX PREPARERS
needed in Joplin, Webb City, Carthage, and Neosho. Seasonal
FREE TRAINING
For more information, call 24 hour
...>MORE

See all ads

Featured Transportation

VOLKSWAGEN 2006 CONVERTIBLE
Volkswagen 2006 convertible, 13,000 miles, perfect condition $15,500 206-6809...>MORE

MITSUBISHI, 1998 MONTERO SPORT,
loaded, 4x4, 147,000 miles, $3200. 417-385-8306, 417-825-7782....>MORE

JEEP, 2007 COMMANDER,
loaded, 22,000 miles, $12,950. 417-781-1409, 529-5606...>MORE

PONTIAC, 2005 AZTEK
Pontiac, 2005 Aztek, all wheel drive, V-6, 65,000 miles, DVD, great mpg, loaded, excellent condition. $9800/trade. 624-3...>MORE

MERCUR 2001 GRAND MARQUIS LS
mercury, 2001 Grand Marquis LS, 69,500 miles, $6800/offer. (417)214-3265....>MORE

1993 BLAZER, TAHOE
1993 Blazer, Tahoe, 4x4, full size, 2 door, needs engine, loaded, $1500. 208-6717...>MORE

FORD, 1996 EXPLORER,
4x4, sharp, $1650
full power, cold air, must see. 437-4424.
...>MORE

OLDSMOBILE 2004 ALERO
OLDSMOBILE, 2004 Alero, 2 door, 72,000 miles great condition $5200 417-529-1657...>MORE

PONTIAC 2001 GRAND AM GT
pontiac, 2001 Grand Am GT Coupe, 2 door, black, automatic, 4 shift bucket seats, moonroof, $3650. (417)434-5503....>MORE

FORD 2006 RANGER XLT
FORD, 2006 Ranger XLT, 50,000 miles, power windows/locks, bed liner, tool box, etc. $12,500 or best offer (417)499-4345...>MORE

See all ads

Featured Homes

LEASE/PURCHASE
Executive Home, 4 br, 3 ba, 3000 sq. ft. on 5 acres. 605-521-0971...>MORE

2 BR, 1 BA,
excellent location, 208 E. Lexington, Jasper, $325. (417)830-0873....>MORE

2802 MASSACHUSETTS, JOPLIN
2802 Massachusetts, Joplin You won't believe the price! 3 bedroom, new central heat and air, new roof, appliances.. Cl...>MORE

ATTRACTIVE 4 BR ORONOGO
attractive, comfortable 4 br, 3 ba, 2-level, 2600 sq. ft. home. Greystone Subdivision, $194,900. 103 Jason Blvd., Oronog...>MORE

Deerfield Estates
in Carl Junction, prime building sites, reduced $10,000 each. 417-825-0052...>MORE

525 E 41ST FOR SALE AT AUCTION
525 E. 41ST, Joplin, MO will be offered for sale at Auction
Saturday, December 5th 9:30 AM AAA Auctions Bob 417-
...>MORE

2 BR COTTAGE
2 BR COTTAGE, small but cute, all electric, small down, $450. Owner finance. 609 W. 15th. 417-439-4104....>MORE

OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY 1-5 P.M.
OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY 1-5 p.m. New construction, 3 BR, 2 BA, 3 car garage, newer neighborhood, mature trees, 3 minutes from...>MORE

3BR, ALBA
3 BR, 1 ba, 1 car gar, large fenced yard, Alba $550+ deposit. Hud ok 417-540-4674...>MORE

See all ads

Other Cool Stuff

GOLDEN RETRIEVER PUPS
GOLDEN Retriever pups, AKC, (620)756-4176 www.freewebs.com/ranchodelavega...>MORE

50CC 4 WHEELER
50cc 4-wheeler with remote kill, $350; dining room table and 4 chairs, $100; 3 year washer, dryer combination, $300; ant...>MORE

DOBERMAN PUP
Doberman pup, ACA, black/tan, male, 11 weeks, neutered. (620)922-3531....>MORE

CLOSE OUT PRICES
close OUT prices on beads, jewelry, and Longaberger products. Bring this ad for 10% off beads and jewelry. Saturday, Nov...>MORE

COCKER SPANIEL PUPPIES
COCKER SPANIEL Puppies For SALE. Registered with shots, Buff Color. Call for Information (620)-856-1946...>MORE

1999 19' SUN CHASER
1999 19’ Sun Chaser, tandems, air, awning, sleeps 6, self contained. See at Community Mobile Park, Miami, OK. $5500 or b...>MORE

SIBERIAN HUSKY
Siberian Husky - female, 2 years old; Husky mix - female, 2 years old. Both spayed, housebroken, and vaccinated. Very en...>MORE

BUY NOW,
small down, rest with tax return, vet checked/shots, small Chihuahua’s. (417)439-3647...>MORE

GORGEOUS OAK POOL TABLE
GORGEOUS oak pool table, 2 inch slate, pearl inlays, bear claw legs; new rare neon beer sign. (417)483-6719....>MORE

(2) AWESOME
6 month La-Z-Boy plush big mans swivel rocker recliners, $195 each; 19” thick pillow top king mattress, box springs, bra...>MORE

See all ads


 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2009. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index

 

 

The Joplin Globe Electronic Edition