Tar Creek ProjectEnvironmental Geology

By Brian Luedecke

Dianne Phillips , Instructor

Environmental ethics is an important concept addressed in Environmental Geology. The Tar Creek Superfund site is prime example of how of environmental ethics arise and their function in effecting a resolution. Tar Creek superfund case study effectively educates all aspects of the effects of the utilization and abandonment of mining operations on local environments.

Introduction

Dianne Phillips Environmental Geology class traveled to Picher, Oklahoma to visit the Tar Creek Superfund site and to see the first hand effects of the utilization and abandonment of mining operations on the local environment. Before visiting tar creek, students were given instruction in the regional geologic and hydrologic settings, as well as the residual effects of mining to the environment. Effects of mining at Tar Creek include acid mine drainage into local streams including tar creek, effects of leftover mining materials including mills and chat piles, and effects connected with the degradation of plant and animal life. This case study also taught about the sociopolitical aspects connected with the mining operation and cleanup.

Overview

work collaboratively as teams to solve community based problems

use computer based technology apply course concepts in relevant and meaningful

wayswork collaboratively with members of the

community Make important community contactsExperience personal and professional growth

Project Objective and Goals

 

Laid ground work future NWACC field trips collaborating and networking with the Quapaw Superfund

program members including Program Manager Tim Kent and Environmental Office manager James Luedecke.

Formulate effective field trip guide and have made promising arrangement for future NWACC east project students.

Community

photo  by Chris Cooley

Tim Kent, Field Trip Leader

This Project met the East/Empacts course objectives by using knowledge and skills gained from class content, discussion, and field work to investigate real world issues and produce our findings in the form of reports and PowerPoint's.

Curriculum  

Technology used for this project included computer software such as Microsoft word and Microsoft PowerPoint. These programs gave effective ways to compose our findings into a structured report that not only would reeducate us and show what we learned but also be informational to viewers.

Technology

I learned and developed many skills throughout the duration of this case study.

listening and learning skills during the in class discussion and assignments.

develop my question asking and discussion skills form well organized reports using computer technology such as

Microsoft PowerPoint. I also learned how to collaborate between my instructor and the

Superfund Program members to coordinate the class field trip to Picher.

Skills Developed

Making initial contact with the Superfund team collaborating with my brother who is the Director of the

Quapaw Tribe Environmental Office working on the Superfund Site.

I then took this to my Environmental Geology Instructor, who asked me to instigate the possibility of a field trip to Tar Creek.

I then collaborated between my brother and my instructor to coordinate the fieldtrip.

Methodology

Along with many skills I gained throughout this project we were also able to produce a fieldtrip guide for future classes.

Along with all these results we also were also given information about the tar creek that have sparked interest and concern with our class and allowed us to spread the word through:

An article published in the NWACC paper telling about our field trip.

We were also able to add this field trip pictures to the East Project website Accessible through NWACC website.

We also set up contacts in the Quapaw Super Fund Program that promise future follow up trips to Tar Creek, allowing for many more students to be engaged with the environmental issues of Tar Creek.

I was happy to take part in this project and was intrigued to learn that there are major environmental issues that effect the lives of many people and a large environment and that there is work to be done to resolve these issues.

Project Results

By setting up these contacts with the Quapaw Super fund program at Tar Creek. We have opened up the possibilities for future trips to Tar Creek and the possibility for some hand to hand work with the Quapaw Superfund Group to future East Students.

Future Project Idea’s

I would like to Acknowledge: Tim Kent – Quapaw Superfund Program ManagerJames Luedecke – Director of Quapaw Tribe Environmental

Office And Dianne Phillips – Instructor and East/Empact Facilitator

Acknowledgements

Appendices