Tar Creek Superfund Site - Federal and State Health Agencies to Discuss Health Findings with Community November 28 and 29

Ottawa County, Miami, Oklahoma

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) and the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) will host public availability sessions November 28 and 29 to discuss findings of the Public Health Assessment, Occurrence of Selected Health Conditions in Ottawa County, Oklahoma.

The public availability sessions will be held at the Miami Civic Center Tuesday November 28, 2006 from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm, and repeated Wednesday November 29, 2006 from 10:00 am to noon. The Civic Center is located at 129 5th Street NW in Miami Okla.

Each public availability session will begin with the presentation of the findings from the public health assessment and ATSDR’s plan for the Tar Creek Superfund Site. The plan covers nine community health concerns, such as, consumption of fish and native foods, child health and air quality issues, and contact with sediment at Riverview Park in Miami.

For the public health assessment, ATSDR and OSDH reviewed information from Oklahoma's cancer and birth defects registry, special education and newborn screening programs, death certificates, and a survey of health conditions in adults. 

After the presentation, representatives from ATSDR, OSDH and other groups will be available to meet one-on-one with community members to provide information and to hear their comments and health concerns regarding health activities at the Tar Creek Superfund site. Representatives include Ottawa County Health Department, Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality and fish studies, Local Environmental Action Demanded (LEAD) Agency, and Wyandotte Nation.

For more information about ATSDR’s involvement at the Tar Creek Superfund site, please visit www.atsdr.cdc.gov/sites/tarcreek; for additional information on the November 28 and 29 public availability sessions, community members can contact Health Communication Specialist La Freta Dalton at 404-498-1743 or LDalton@cdc.gov, or ATSDR Regional Representative Jennifer Lyke at 214-665-8362 or JLyke@cdc.gov. 

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Related Web Site(s)

ATSDR Tar Creek Site Information
Tar Creek Superfund Site - Ottawa County, OK

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Related PHA & HC For this Press Release

Occurrence Of Selected Health Conditions
Document Date: 9/30/2008 - PHA  [PDF - 1600 KB]

Tar Creek Superfund Site
Document Date: 9/30/2008 - PHA  [PDF - 1300 KB]

Tar Creek
Document Date: 11/21/2006 -   [PDF]

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Related News Releases For Ottawa County, Miami, Oklahoma

 

Health of Ottawa County Residents Similar to Other Oklahoma Residents Says Report
Release Date: Tuesday, November 21, 2006
The health status of Ottawa County residents is similar to other Oklahoma residents says a public health assessment released today by the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) and the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH).

ATSDR Releases Report to Congress on Exposure to Lead at Tar Creek Superfund Site in Ottawa County, Oklahoma
Release Date: Monday, November 08, 2004
Average blood lead levels and the percentage of children with elevated blood lead levels - at or above 10 micrograms per deciliter - decreased among children aged 1-5 years who were living in the Tar Creek, Ottawa County, Okla., area and who were tested for lead during 1995-2003. However, people who live in Tar Creek, especially residents of Picher and Cardin, may still be exposed to lead from mine tailings, or chat, because they may live close to chat piles, mill and mine residues, and flotation ponds.

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