Cardin, Oklahoma (ghost town)

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Along with the neighboring town of Picher, this once bustling mining town suffered terribly from the effects of a century's worth of unrestricted and irresponsible lead and zinc mining. The water supply and creeks are red and polluted with acid runoff from the abandoned mines. Huge piles of lead-contaminated chat (mine waste) cover the area and will take literally another century to dispose of. The EPA is trying to sell it off as an asphalt/concrete ingredient for roadbeds.

Up to 90% of Cardin, Picher and Treece is severely undermined and in danger of collapse. The EPA began to buy out and evacuate the residents in 2008.

Update: Cardin is entirely abandoned as of 2009 and officially a ghost town. The buyout process from the EPA went much faster in Cardin because of it's small population.


www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJ15zEUfrPY&feature=related