Quapaw Tribe Sues Federal Government For $175 Million

In the lawsuit, the tribe says lead and zinc deposits found beneath Quapaw territory made mining companies rich, but never benefited the tribe's members.

Tuesday, March 26th 2013, 9:30 pm

By: News On 6

Quapaw Tribe Sues Federal Government For $175 Million

The Quapaw tribe blames the federal government for poisoning its land in northeastern Oklahoma. Now, it's suing for $175 million.

In the lawsuit, the tribe says lead and zinc deposits found beneath Quapaw territory made mining companies rich, but never benefited the tribe's members.

The suit also claims when the mining stopped, the government protected the companies and not the land, leading to piles of toxic mining waste that still dot the landscape around the towns of Picher and Quapaw.

They're part of the EPA's Tar Creek Superfund site, but the Quapaws claim feds have had decades and next to nothing has been done to clean up the land.

The tribe tells News On 6 it tried to reach a settlement with the government without filing a lawsuit, but couldn't.