Study finds Tar Creek in Miami still not safe due to historic mining

MIAMI, Okla. — A new study found sections of Tar Creek in Miami contain high levels of lead, zinc and other toxic heavy metals at several swimming holes where individuals were found picnicking, swimming and fishing.

There were 12 surface water samples, 20 sediment samples and 24 surface soil samples collected from five swimming holes on Tar Creek. The locations were near Low Water Bridge, BNSF Bridge and the Miami Nursing Home. Residents have observed individuals swimming, fishing, cutting trees and burning fires in these areas.

Local Environmental Action Demanded (LEAD) Agency, a nonprofit community group based in Miami, first noticed signs of recreational activities along Tar Creek in June 2021. Children were building rope swings and makeshift dams to pool water for swimming holes. Damming up any river, creek or stream is a violation of the Clean Water Act and is illegal.

ODEQ and EPA designed and provided signage to post around Tar Creek warning the public that the water was hazardous and to refrain from any activities. Despite their best efforts, the signs were either destroyed or taken down, and dams that were removed were rebuilt.

In concern for human health, LEAD Agency requested a study from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency where samples were collected from the soil, sediment and surface water of Miami’s Tar Creek in October 2022.

The results of the study were shared on Dec. 7 through the EPA’s Technical Assistance Services for Communities (TASC) program, a contractor that helps review and explain information to communities in a way the public can understand. All sampled areas contained unacceptable levels of cadmium, lead and zinc, which can cause short-term to long-term health problems in both children and adults.

The study found harmful levels of zinc, lead and cadmium in the water, soil and sediment. The surface water also contained arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, iron, manganese and nickel.

Sample groups were separated into the general public and tribal lifeways to determine who could be exposed to the heavy metals in Tar Creek. Exposure rates of contamination can be measured in three routes: inhalation, ingestion, or direct skin contact.

Results show that tribal people have more of a risk of exposure to heavy metals found in Tar Creek than the general public due to their cultural practices. The report indicated that there’s a high probability for tribal children to have toxic levels of lead in their blood, based on tribal lifeway exposures. Blood studies for the general public were within an acceptable range by EPA standards, for the most part.

“No level of lead should be acceptable, as any amount can cause harm,” said Rebecca Jim, executive director of LEAD Agency and Tar Creekkeeper with the Waterkeeper Alliance. We would love to see the day when children can play in Tar Creek, but we’re just not there, yet. The younger generations need to be made aware of this region’s historic mining activity and the devastation it has caused to human health and the environment.”

Skeo Solutions, a consulting firm that specializes in environmental stewardship, social equity and economic opportunity, was hired by EPA to present the findings.

Karmen King, an aquatic toxicologist with Skeo Solutions, said she tries to put herself in the shoes of the community when analyzing the documents and comes up with questions that she would want answered.

“I pass these questions onto Rebecca Jim, and I don’t pass them to EPA,” said King. “If she finds them to be appropriate and reflective of her concerns, then she can take those to EPA.”

The report concluded that activities such as swimming and picnicking along Tar Creek pose health hazards due to unacceptable heavy metal exposures and recommends that these types of recreational activities be halted until the site is remediated.

King said the results drew some uncertainty since the numbers were based on computer models and only records a snapshot of time in a particular area. However, one thing remained abundantly clear — Tar Creek is not safe.

“We use a lot of conservative assumptions as part of the process, so it’s best to overestimate the risks, but we want that kind of deservedness in these sessions to make sure we address all of the possible risk conditions,” said King. “But what that means is there’s a certain amount of uncertainty associated with the evaluation.

The study is a first of its kind since it tested Tar Creek within the city limits of Miami. Most of Tar Creeks’ research over the years has been conducted within the Superfund Site near Picher, Oklahoma.

The Tar Creek Superfund Site is a former lead and zinc mining area part of the Tri-State Mining District, which included Southwest Missouri, Northeast Oklahoma and Southeast Kansas. Tar Creek has been named on American River’s list of Most Endangered Rivers for the last two years.

In 1979, acidic mine water bubbled to the surface of Tar Creek, caused by flooded mining cavities that stained the water red/orange from iron. This brought national attention to Tar Creek, which was added to the federal National Priorities List in 1983. This makes it one of the oldest and most complex Superfund Sites in the country.

Hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent remediating the site but work will continue for several more decades.

“Generations have been harmed by the metals associated with the superfund site and at the rate of cleanup, more will suffer before it is completed,” said Jim.

Jim said Tar Creek’s rustic color had been viewed as a warning sign by the public, but it can be deceiving since not all of the creek has that appearance.

“The treasure Tar Creek can be must drive this community to demand the cleanup they deserve,” she said.

Additional signage and security measures will be placed at the swimming holes in effort to prevent further exposure to toxic heavy metals. LEAD Agency will also continue to monitor the area.

About LEAD Agency: Local Environmental Action Demanded Agency, Inc. (LEAD) is an environmental justice organization in northeastern Oklahoma that seeks to raise awareness about the effects of contamination on human health and the environment. Through public education, outreach, action, involvement with appropriate government agencies, and litigation, LEAD works to organize a citizen response toward cleanup and restoration of environmental harms, while striving for pollution prevention and environmental sustainability. For more information, visit www.leadagency.org and follow on Facebook. LEAD Agency is located at 223 A. St. SE, Miami, OK 74354.