Environmental Justice
Renewed Hope for North Birmingham

HUD Southeast Regional Administrator Ed Jennings, Jr. (front right) with members of the Interagency Working Group seeking solutions for North Birmingham.

Years of unmitigated dumping of industrial waste in and around North Birmingham caused environmental contamination with all its health and economic consequences for the community. The tide may finally be turning around with an intergovernmental working group determined to seek solutions for remediating and improving the quality of life for the residents of the area.

At the beginning of this year, the working group met in Atlanta to set the platform for specific areas of concern and need. These components will then be consolidated into one plan for moving the community forward.

In 2014, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) declared the area a Superfund Site and began efforts to form a team to seek solutions for the community. HUD has played a lead role in the task force, including hosting a December gathering of the group. Over 129 persons participated with 85 of those representing the City of Birmingham and affected community.

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