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EPA Proposes Criteria for Using Chat from Tar Creek and Other Areas

Release Date: 03/24/2006
Contact Information: Cindy Fanning, (214) 665-2142, fanning.cynthia@epa.gov or Dave Bary, (214) 665-2208, bary.david@epa.gov

(Dallas, Texas, March 24, 2006) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is proposing criteria for the beneficial use of chat from the Tri-state mining district in transportation construction projects and in non-transportation, non-residential concrete and cement projects. EPA believes the proposed uses of chat are protective of human health and the environment.

The proposed criteria involve safely encapsulating chat particles in asphalt or cement and concrete. Beneficially using chat according to the proposed criteria will both reduce chat piles and improve human health and the environment in the Tri-state area.

Chat is a gravel-like waste created from lead and zinc mining activities in the Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri Tri-state district between the late 1800s and mid 1900s. Currently about 100 million tons of chat contaminated with lead, zinc and cadmium are located in the Tri-state mining district.

The district covers approximately 2,500 square miles and includes parts of Ottawa County, Okla.; Cherokee County, Kan.; and Jasper and Newton Counties, Mo. The area includes four Superfund National Priority List sites: Cherokee County, Tar Creek (Ottawa County), Newton County Mine and the Oronogo-Duenweg Mining Belt.

EPA is proposing these criteria in response to the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act of 2005. More information is available on EPA’s web page at https://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/other/mining/chat/.