Oklahoma Tribe To Oversee Cleanup Of Superfund Site

A local tribe will be managing the environmental cleanup of an area within the Tar Creek Superfund Site.

The Quapaw Tribe says it's the first time in history the Environmental Protection Agency has given a tribe oversight of a superfund site.

The tribe will be in charge of cleaning up those "chat" piles left over from the mining of heavy metals in the area southeast of Quapaw.

According to a press release provided by the tribe, the area they are responsible for, known as Catholic 40, holds an old Catholic Church that many Quapaw Tribal members attended until 1927.

The tribe believes they will be successful in the cleanup and their hope is to preserve the church.