From 1972 to 1980, Royal N. Hardage operated a hazardous waste disposal facility on a 160-acre property in Criner, McClain County, Oklahoma. The site received roughly 21 million gallons of industrial waste. Poor disposal practices contaminated both soil and groundwater. The site was added to the National Priorities List (NPL), the federal government's roster of priority cleanup sites, in 1983.
Thirty-four contaminants of concern have been identified across two main areas. The source area holds chlorinated solvents like trichloroethene and tetrachloroethene, metals including lead and chromium, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). The groundwater is contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as benzene and vinyl chloride, heavy metals including cadmium, lead, and selenium, and other substances like fluoride and barium. People can be exposed through ingestion or skin contact with contaminated soil, groundwater, or sludge.
The cleanup operates under a 1990 court order rather than a standard EPA decision document. Remedies include a composite cap over source areas, an interceptor trench, groundwater extraction wells, liquid recovery with incineration, above-ground groundwater treatment, and natural attenuation. Construction wrapped up in 1995 for remedial action and was fully complete across the site by September 1997. Operation, maintenance, and monitoring have continued since then and will go on indefinitely. The most recent Five Year Review, completed in March 2022, found the remedy protective of human health and the environment. The next review is expected between March and May 2027.
EPA assessments show human exposure is currently under control, with no unacceptable exposure pathways in place. Groundwater contamination is stabilized within its original area, and EPA is monitoring to confirm it stays contained. Physical construction is complete across the entire site. However, the site has not yet achieved cleanup goals tied to all current and planned land uses, and required land-use restrictions are not fully in place. Because of this, the site is not yet designated as ready for anticipated use, though redevelopment may still be possible on portions of the property. The Superfund Redevelopment Program is working with the community to explore productive reuse options.
Community members with questions can contact the EPA Community Involvement Coordinator or the Remedial Project Manager. For state-related questions, contact the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality.
