For more than 80 years, lead mining was the economic mainstay in the northeastern corner area of Oklahoma known as the Tar Creek Basin. When mining operations ceased in 1970, the mining companies pulled out of the area leaving mountains of lead laced mining residues, known locally as chat, piled in the center of Picher, Oklahoma. To compound this issue, orange rust water began to discharge from the open mine shafts in 1979 and flow into Tar Creek. Soon after, the entire area was placed on the first Superfund National Priority List and work was completed to divert Tar Creek around the open...