The Tar Creek area of Oklahoma was a mining site for a nearly a century, leading it to be designated a Superfund site because of significant toxic pollution. As recently as the 1990s, one-third of children in the area had elevated levels of lead in their blood. The federal government managed a “buyout” of the area, allowing residents to sell their homes and leave. Now, as cleanup of the site continues, people are returning to the area – and some are buying property to raise families without being told about the history and the potential for continued exposure. With support from the Fund, Streetlight (a national nonprofit news organization focused on housing and other issues) investigated and found serious gaps in information, including families who moved into homes without knowing the hazard and whose children now have high levels of lead in their blood.
Investigation raises serious questions about Oklahoma homebuyers not being informed of Superfund site hazards
