Newsroom
All News Releases By Date
EPA Will Offer Relocation Assistance to Treece, Kan., Residents
Release Date: 04/15/2010
Contact Information: EPA Region 7 - David Bryan, 913-551-7433, [email protected]; EPA Region 6 - David Bary, 214-665-2200, [email protected]
Environmental News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Kansas City, Kan., April 15, 2010) - The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced it has approved a modification of the cleanup plan for the Tar Creek Superfund site in Oklahoma. The modification provides for the relocation of nearby residents in Treece, Kansas.
“Coping with this legacy of pollution has been an extraordinary challenge for this community. It's important that they have the support of their government, and we're happy to be able to offer assistance as they relocate to a safer, healthier place,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “We hope this marks the beginning of a new chapter of health and prosperity for the families of Treece.”
After several senior EPA officials visited Treece last year, Administrator Jackson determined that residents there face a unique and urgent threat from the legacy of pollution related to lead mining in their community. Residents of neighboring Picher, Oklahoma, which faced similar challenges and is also part of the Tar Creek Superfund site, were relocated starting in June 2008.
On Oct. 29, 2009, Congress provided EPA with an exemption from the Uniform Relocation Act, thereby allowing for the relocation of Treece residents. As a result, EPA identified relocation as the primary option for Treece residents due to similar environmental challenges to those faced by immediately adjacent Oklahoma residents. Today’s announcement is the next step towards making relocation arrangements.
On Jan. 13, EPA sent a letter to the state of Kansas on the status of potential relocation of Treece residents, outlining several steps the state of Kansas had to take. Those steps include:
- Meeting the state’s 10% share of the relocation cost and preparing to assume responsibility for the bought-out land
- Developing a plan for implementing the buyouts
- Holding public meetings to ensure residents are informed about the relocation process
The voluntary relocation assistance will be provided by the State of Kansas Department of Health and Environment. The estimated number of properties being considered is approximately 77 residential and business properties.
Local, state and federal representatives held a public meeting on March 8, 2010, to provide information about the buyout process and answer questions from local residents.
Copies of the Superfund Explanation of Significant Differences for the Record of Decision: Tar Creek Superfund Site Operable Unit 4, Ottawa County, Oklahoma, April 2010, are available at the Miami Public Library in Miami, Oklahoma, and the Johnston Public Library in Baxter Springs, Kansas.
The document is also available online. EPA audio file is available online.
More about activities in EPA Region 7
More about activities in EPA Region 6
Locate this and other Region 7 news items on the News Where You Live interactive map
Search this collection of releases | or search all news releases
View selected historical press releases from 1970 to 1998 in the EPA History website.
