Quapaw Nation at the Helm of Tar Creek Restoration
- Josemiguel Gomez
- Aug 12
- 1 min read
The Quapaw Nation has been leading the cleanup of the Tar Creek Superfund site—a former mining area with deep cultural significance—showing environmental leadership and resilience.
In October 2023, the Tribe became the first in the U.S. to lead cleanup operations at a Superfund site when it took over remediation of the “Catholic 40” area. Within a year, they removed over 107,000 tons of mining waste from that site alone .
Over the past decade, the Quapaw Nation Environmental Office has overseen the removal of more than 7 million tons of chat and remediated over 600 acres—transforming dangerous, contaminated land into safer, healthier spaces .
As Summer King, environmental scientist with the Quapaw Nation Environmental Office, put it:
“Because of the cultural and historical importance to the Nation, they knew their own people were the best for the job.”
Their dedication is further seen in a recent workshop co-hosted with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to develop a vision for land restoration across Quapaw lands, which cover about 70% of the Tar Creek site .
Why the Quapaw Nation Workshop Matters
You’re invited to the Critical Minerals Workshop, hosted by the Quapaw Nation—a three-day event offering an opportunity to learn, collaborate, and support their ongoing efforts to restore Tar Creek and guide sustainable resource recovery.
Sources:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – Celebrating 10 Years of Tribal Cleanup Partnership at Tar Creek Superfund Site
https://www.epa.gov/mo/celebrating-10-years-tribes-cleanup-partnership-tar-creek-superfund-site
Washington Informer – Quapaw Nation’s Historic Cleanup of Tar Creek
https://www.washingtoninformer.com/tar-creek-lead-contamination-quapaw-nation/
U.S. Army – Healing the Land: USACE, Quapaw Nation Take First Steps Toward Land Restoration