For Immediate Release: July 23, 2020

Contact: Erin Hatfield, (405) 702-7119

The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are proposing removal of the Tulsa Fuel and Manufacturing Superfund site from the National Priorities List (NPL). DEQ and EPA have determined that all remediation, which is protective of public health, welfare, and the environment, has been completed and no further cleanup is necessary.

The public is invited to comment on the proposed decision to remove this site from the NPL. Comments must be received no later than August 17, 2020, through https://www.regulations.gov, or by email to torres.michael@epa.gov. Due to COVID-19, written comments submitted by mail are temporarily suspended and no hand deliveries will be accepted.

The site’s historical zinc smelter and lead roaster facility deposited hazardous metals on-site between 1914 and 1925. The cleanup, which was led by DEQ and largely funded by EPA, included excavating contaminated materials and placing them into a capped consolidation cell on-site. Now that the site has been cleaned up to meet commercial and residential standards for reuse, a pair of local bee rescue and honey farming businesses, Shadow Mountain Honey Company and Ide’s Gary Avenue Gold, have cooperated to establish approximately 24 hives on-site. In 2019, EPA selected the site for its Greenovations Award recognizing excellence in supporting safe and responsible cleanup and reuse.

Additional information is also available on DEQ’s website at https://www.deq.ok.gov/land-protection-division/cleanup-redevelopment/superfund.

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