xvEPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
May 2007
EPA530-F-07-016
www.epa.gov/osw
Beneficial Uses
For Chat Finalized
                 The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is encouraging the safe and beneficial
             use of chat from the Tri-state mining district, located in parts of Oklahoma, Kansas
             and Missouri. Beneficially using chat will reduce the current health and environmental
             hazards posed by existing surface-level chat piles.

          Action
                EPA is finalizing the criteria for the beneficial use of chat from the Tri-state
          mining district in transportation construction projects that are carried out, in whole
          or in part, using federal funds. EPA is also recommending criteria as guidance for
          the beneficial use of chat in non-transportation, non-residential concrete and cement
          projects, such as commercial foundations, side walk areas, and parking areas. EPA
          believes these uses of chat are protective of human health and the environment.
             Chat is a gravel-like waste created from lead and zinc mining activities in the
          Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri Tri-state district between the late 1800s and mid
          1900s. Currently about 100 million tons of chat contaminated with lead, zinc and
          cadmium are located in the Tri-state mining district.  The district covers approximately
          2,500 square miles and includes parts of Ottawa County, Oklahoma; Cherokee
          County, Kansas; and Jasper and Newton Counties, Missouri and includes four
          Superfund National Priority List (NPL) sites: Cherokee County, Tar Creek (Ottawa
          County), Newton County Mine and the Oronogo-Duenweg Mining Belt.
             Beneficially using chat according to the finalized criteria will both reduce chat
          piles and improve human health and the environment in the Tri-state area. EPA is
          finalizing these criteria in response to the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient
          Transportation Equity Act of 2005.

          For More Information
             Please visit us on the Web at: www.epa.gov/epaoswer/other/mining/chat/.

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