Picher lawsuit aims for relocation, lawyer says

<br>(Miami, Oklahoma-AP) -- Six former mining companies in northeastern Oklahoma are being sued by a residents, a school and the city of Picher. <br><br>An attorney for the group says the federal lawsuit

Thursday, June 12th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Miami, Oklahoma-AP) -- Six former mining companies in northeastern Oklahoma are being sued by a residents, a school and the city of Picher.

An attorney for the group says the federal lawsuit is against companies that mined the Tar Creek area from 1917 to 1972. Charlie Speer says it's meant to allow Picher and Cardin residents to move together and build a new community and school.

The companies abandoned zinc and lead mines in the Tar Creek area that are now blamed for contaminating the soil and water.

The group wants the companies to relocate the residents, including paying them for their property and medical monitoring of their exposure to contamination.

The companies, which now operate under new names, are: Asarco Incorporated, Blue Tee Corporation, Goldfields Mining Corporation, N-L Industries, Childress Royalty Company and Doe Run Resources Corporation.