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Our story
We officially formed in 2013 after several of us learned they weren't the only ones submitting reports to the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) of the noise, odors, and dust issues we believed were causing health issues for our families. Fifty families came together. We decided that we wanted a buyout. The last decade has taught us that for most of us, the only solution is a buyout. Environmental regulation and enforcement will not be enough to reduce the health risks associated with living so close to so many polluting facilities.
That's our neighborhood -- Cherokee subdivision. There are about 120 homes in our subdivision and as you can see to the east, there are several large industrial facilities. Seven in all (not all are pictured here) and a Superfund site. ​
The list includes Chevron Refinery, Gulf LNG (liquified natural gas terminal), Bollinger (Formerly VT Halter & Halter Marine & Offshore), BP Enterprise (gas processing plant), Destin Pipeline, and First Chemical (currently sold to Oleo-X), and MS Phosphates Superfund.​
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According to ProPublica investigative research, our neighborhood is considered a cancer hot spot with some households at risk of cancer 3.4 times more than what EPA says is acceptable. Based on our own health survey, we found that on average people in our neighborhood are sick about nine days a month. We documented at least 35 cases of cancer and many households with chronic respiratory and sinus issues, lung, heart, neurological, and other health issues. In the last five years, at least 23 people have died of cancer or heart and lung issues.