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7.14.06 Gov. Henry
sets Tar Creek relocation plan in motion
Oklahoma City –
Gov. Brad Henry today set in motion
the relocation of more residents in
the Tar Creek Superfund site in northeastern
Oklahoma. The governor
announced appointments to a revamped
trust authority that will oversee and
administer a new, federally-funded relocation
program initiated by U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe.
Sen. Inhofe recently
commissioned a study on subsidence dangers
in the mining communities of Picher
and Cardin and obtained federal funding
to help relocate residents in hazardous
areas.
“We’re one
step closer to ending the long nightmare
that families in the Tar Creek site
have endured for decades,” said
Gov. Henry. “I have great confidence
in the newly appointed trust members
and am very appreciative of their willingness
to serve in this historic role. With
their good work and the help of Sen.
Inhofe, the people in these communities
are finally getting the help they need
and deserve.”
The state trust in question
was originally established in 2004 to
implement a relocation program proposed
by Gov. Henry. That initiative assisted
families with children aged six and
younger, the population most susceptible
to lead contamination in the area. The
relocation program ended successfully
late last year.
This legislative session,
the governor asked lawmakers to revamp
the trust so that it could administer
a federally-funded relocation based
on subsidence dangers. The change was
authorized in Senate Bill 1463 by Sen.
Charles Wyrick and Rep. Larry Glenn.
The new trust includes
several members that served on the previous
relocation panel.
“We hope to repeat
the success of the first relocation
program. The key is strong local input
and efficient execution. The trust certainly
provided that the first time around,
and I know it will again,” said
the governor.
Trust appointees (occupation/employer
and residence)
• Larry Rice (Trust chairman),
assistant to the president of Tulsa
University, resident of Pryor
• Ed Keheley, vice-president of
Keheley and Associates, resident of
Quapaw
• Dr. Mark Osborn, physician, resident
of Miami*
• Bob Walker, superintendent of
Picher-Cardin Schools, resident of Miami*
• Tamara Summerfield, deputy tribal
administrator of Quapaw Tribe, resident
of Miami*
• Mike Sexton, senior vice-president,
1st National Bank and Trust, resident
of Miami
• James Thompson, attorney, resident
of Miami
• Janell Trimble, Miami public
schools pincipal, resident of Picher
• Rev. Charles Clevenger, pastor
with Tri-State Faith Center, resident
of Picher
*Served on first relocation
trust
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