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.
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.
 work collaboratively as teams to solve community based
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problems
use computer based technology
apply course concepts in relevant and meaningful ways
work collaboratively with members of the community
Make important community contacts
Experience personal and professional growth
 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.
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.
 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.
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.
 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.
 Along with many skills I gained throughout this project we were also
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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.
 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.
I would like to Acknowledge:
Tim Kent – Quapaw Superfund Program Manager
James Luedecke – Director of Quapaw Tribe Environmental Office
And Dianne Phillips – Instructor and East/Empact Facilitator