Aerial photo of the nearby Chevron Pascagoula Refinery in Pascagoula, MS
The Cherokee Concerned Citizens (CCC) in Pascagoula, Mississippi, are battling severe environmental pollution from nearby industrial sites, including a Superfund location. Formed in 2013, the community has faced increased instances of sickness and cancer. The community is also located in a high-flood-risk area. Their goal is to produce strong scientific evidence to make a case to the city for relocation. Although they face skepticism from agencies and political resistance, the CCC remains committed to ensuring health safety and environmental justice for their community.
In 2023, CCC with partner organization Buy-In Community Planning conducted a survey of 130 households in their neighborhood to determine the level of buyout interest. Despite the high level of interest, the city of Pascagoula declined their request to apply for funding for a buyout using FEMA BRIC funding through the state of Mississippi. However, they have not given up.
Earlier this year, CCC’s partner Buy-In Community Planning received a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to work directly with them to develop a first-of-its-kind Relocation to Restoration plan. This plan aims to develop a strategy for acquiring high risk properties voluntarily from willing owners and restore the parcels into native gulf coast landscapes. This type of ecosystem restoration will not only improve biodiversity, water quality, and ecosystem health, but provide an essential ecological “green buffer” to protect nearby the homes and businesses of East Pascagoula from hurricanes, sea level rise, and the ongoing industrial pollution from Bayou Casotte Industrial Park.
Their vision is a TAP that will meet quarterly on zoom to provide feedback on the initiative, provide insight into technical references and resources that may support the project, help to develop a robust strategy for sharing the outcomes of their report, and work with them to make the necessary connections and support network to realize their vision for a more resilient Pascagoula.
CCC has engaged experts in the areas of flood risk, relocation, environmental restoration and environmental justice to participate in a Technical Advisory Panel (TAP).
Duration: 18 months
The TAP will meet quarterly over an 18 month period of performance.
The Cherokee Concerned Citizens (CCC) in Pascagoula, Mississippi, are deeply engaged in a struggle to combat the environmental pollution besieging their neighborhood. Living perilously close to multiple polluting facilities, including Chevron Refinery, Gulf LNG, Bollinger, BP Enterprise, Destin Pipeline, Olex, and MS Phosphates Superfund, they are exposed to severe air and noise pollution.
Formed in 2013 after residents realized the extent of their shared concerns about noise, odors, and dust, the group found that these issues were causing significant health problems. In their quest for justice, the CCC has utilized PurpleAir monitors to measure particulate matter, capturing concrete data on the air pollution levels. Research indicates that the neighborhood is a cancer hotspot, with cancer risks 3.4 times higher than EPA acceptable levels. A health survey revealed an average of nine sick days per month per person, with at least 35 cancer cases and numerous other health issues reported. In the last five years, at least 23 residents have died from cancer or heart and lung diseases. Despite the CCC’s diligent efforts and involvement in a lawsuit with 50 households, responses from the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have been underwhelming. The ineffectiveness of engaging in the Title 5 permitting process has further compounded their frustrations.
CCC is exploring the possibility of convincing the city to relocate residents of the neighborhood and transform the area into an open space zone containing green infrastructure such as constructed wetlands. This green infrastructure zone could potentially bring benefits to a city which already has a complicated issue with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and their flood maps. Development of this green infrastructure solution presents a beneficial alternative to the City rather than relying on a private sector buyout.
Jennifer Crosslin is a lifelong resident of the Mississippi Gulf Coast and community organizer working to create a more equitable, safe, and sustainable Gulf Coast. She joined the Cherokee Concerned Citizens to provide organizing support to the residents of Cherokee subdivision in Pascagoula, MS in their efforts to protect their health and wellbeing against industrial pollution.
Jennifer Baka is an Associate Professor of Geography and an Associate at the Earth and Environmental Systems Institute at Penn State. She conducts interdisciplinary research on how energy systems impact human-environment relationships and environmental governance. Since 2020, she has been a Member of the Environmental Justice Advisory Board for the PA Department of Environmental Protection. Prior to joining Penn State, she was an Assistant Professor of Geography and Environment at the London School of Economics from 2013-16. She earned a PhD in Environmental Studies from the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies and a Master’s in Public Policy from UC Berkeley. Prior to graduate school, Dr. Baka worked in the energy industry for numerous years first as an economic consultant in Washington, DC and second as a consultant for the United Nations Environment Programme in Paris, France.
Carl Fredrick Guico Aquino (he/him/his) is a Field Organizer for Climate Action PA, a climate action project of the League of Conservation Voters and former Legislative Intern for Senator Andrew Zwicker (New Jersey’s 16th Legislative District). He completed his Master of Science in Geosciences at Penn State specializing in geophysical climate risk assessment to support decision making under deep uncertainty (DMDU). He also spent two years as a Graduate Fellow for Science Advocacy and Diversity (GFSAD) where he led over 14 programs in science advocacy and diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging for science. As an undergrad, Carl double majored in Earth Sciences and Finance, and minored in Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences at Penn State. Carl is passionate about justice and equity considerations for climate change and decarbonization. Prior to becoming a scientist, Carl wrote music for film and television in Los Angeles, California.
