The State Department of Environmental Quality is investigating Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College for allegedly dumping oil into a storm drain that feeds the Tar Creek in Miami.
Skylar McElhaney, a spokeswoman at the DEQ indicated two complaints were received this month, alleging the college siphoned oil from a vehicle barn and used a hose to drain it into the storm drain.
“We don’t know if we have a good estimate of how much went into Tar Creek<” McElhaney told the Tulsa World. “Our current focus is making sure the area gets cleaned up.”
The newspaper reported the discovery of the garden hose leading to the storm drain was made June 3. A DEQ report indicated oily water from the college’s bus service barn was pumped into the drain and that the drain showed traces of oil at every grate that opened as it led to Tar Creek.
McElhaney indicated there is the possibility of a fine against the college.