Alabama: federal government ends funding for air monitoring in Birmingham

Black residents in north Birmingham, Alabama, breathed heavily polluted air from several coke factories for decades, and their neighborhoods were officially recognized as a federal hazardous waste site due to soil contamination with arsenic, lead, and benzo(a)pyrene. Considering this history, the Greater Birmingham Alliance to Stop Pollution (GASP) received a $75,000 grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2023 to help establish an air monitoring program in polluted areas. However, the agency announced this month that it will stop the grant because it is no longer aligned with the priorities of the current federal government. Jilisa Milton, GASP’s executive director, said she is not surprised by the decision, noting the Trump administration’s opposition to all projects tied to “diversity” and environmental issues. However, she pointed out that pollution continues in north Birmingham neighborhoods, exposing residents to particulate matter and other dangerous substances. It is why securing funds for air monitoring in those areas is so important, giving local communities an opportunity to learn more about the continued impact of industrial pollution on their health. Therefore, GASP plans to appeal the termination with EPA officials, though Milton is doubtful about changing the agency’s mind. If the appeal is rejected, the organization will seek private donors to fund the air monitoring program.
Birmingham is not the only site in Alabama hit by federal cuts to environmental and social projects. In April, the White House announced the termination of an “illegal” diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) settlement aimed at addressing sewage issues in the state’s black belt.