Plugging begins near Oologah Lake

Wednesday, January 19th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Tulsa-AP) -- The plugging of abandoned wells to protect Oologah Lake began today after nearly four years of preparation. It is one of the largest well-plugging projects in United States history.

Gregg Cooke is regional director of the U-S Environmental Protection Agency. Cooke says hundreds of wells on the 42-square-mile site are currently discharging or threaten to discharge into waters of Oologah Lake. The wells were drilled in the 1890s near the east banks of Oologah Lake. Tulsa gets about half of its drinking water from the lake.

The E-P-A is focusing on 400 wells in the pilot section where about 40 percent are leaking or threatening the lake. Authorities say the pilot program should cost about $4.4 million and take about 18 months.