Leaders tour North Birmingham Superfund Site, more than 100 sites still require treatment
By Edward T. Bowser
Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin and U.S. Rep. Terri A. Sewell (D-Birmingham) announced today that while progress has been made in the cleanup of the North Birmingham 35th Avenue Superfund Site, more than 100 sites are still in need of immediate attention.
Woodfin and Sewell were joined by city, state and neighborhood leaders during a tour of the Superfund Site, where officials have called for the Environmental Protection Agency to place the site on the National Priorities List to expedite its cleanup. The site consists of contaminated soil from industrial pollution.
According to Franklin Hill, director of the Superfund Site for region four, the study site of roughly 2,000 properties revealed that 390 sites have undergone the contamination removal process; 127 sites are in need of treatment.
“What’s concerning all of us is the fact that there are 500 or so sites that are either abandoned properties or people refused to allow the EPA to come on and remove from those sites,” Sewell said. “I think it’s important to get active members of the community involved” to reach out to hesitant residents.
“There are real, tangible issues here that have affected people where they live, where they eat, where they sleep every single day,” Woodfin said. “What we’re committed to, based on everything that has happened, is that this area gets the resources, focus and attention it needs to make sure the residents get what they need to be safe.”
On July 19, 2018, a federal jury convicted a coal executive and an attorney who represented the coal company in a criminal conspiracy to prevent the North Birmingham 35th Avenue Superfund Site from advancing to the NPL.
According to EPA guidelines, a site may be included on the NPL if it scores 28.50 or greater on the agency’s Hazard Ranking System. The North Birmingham 35th Avenue Superfund Site scored a 50.
In the letter to EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler, Woodfin said: “As a result of these illegal actions, thousands remain at risk, including the 1,070 people living in 394 public housing units and 751 children attending Hudson K-8 school.”
“The United States Attorney has already done their part by exposing this criminal hoax and bringing those responsible to justice,” the letter continues. “Still these injustices continue until The North Birmingham 35th Avenue Superfund Site is placed on the National Priorities List and all necessary resources are provided to the people of this community.”
The Superfund Site briefing took place across from the home of Dwarn Smith, who had his soil tested a year ago. Many surrounding houses have yet to receive testing. Smith said he was “happy to get it done” but wondered if it was too little, too late.
Mayor Woodfin has asked residents to sign a petition urging the EPA to take action. The petition has garnered nearly 2,000 as of this post. Sign the petition here.
