Deadline For Tar Creek Buyout Applications Looms

Saturday, September 30th 2006, 3:33 pm

By: News On 6

PICHER, Okla. (AP) _ Residents of the towns of Picher, Cardin and Hockerville appear to be rushing to beat the deadline to apply for buyouts of their property in the Tar Creek Superfund area in Ottawa County.

The final day to apply for a part of the 20 (m) million dollar buyout is today.

Miami, Oklahoma, attorney Jim Thompson, who is a member of the Lead-Impacted Communities Relocation Assistance Trust, says more than 400 pieces of mail have arrived in recent days to a post office box where applications were to be sent.

He says since the buyout process began, 866 pieces of mail have arrived in the mailbox.

The buyout is being funded by the federal government and overseen by the state-created trust.

State officials say those who miss the deadline or choose to stay in the towns likely will be left with few services, because the city government and schools probably will cease to exist.