Mississippi Phosphate plant

It’s been just over three years since the Mississippi Phosphate Plant closed its doors in Pascagoula. Residents have voiced concerns about pollution for years and might soon have more answers than questions.
Almost four years after the Mississippi Phosphates Corporation released millions of gallons of damaging wastewater into Bayou Casotte, polluting waterways, killing fish, and destroying marshy areas, help is on the way. Pascagoula Assistant City Manager Frank Corder said, “We’ve all taken a keen interest in this because it affects the health of our citizens and our environment locally.”
The Environmental Protection Agency recently announced the old Mississippi Phosphates site was added to its superfund programs national priorities list. “When it comes to dollars and clean up dollars to do that, it’s vital to have that site on that list.”
News 25 spoke to Pascagoula resident Barbara Weckesser in 2015 about her concerns with the old plant and now three years later, she says not much has changed. “What I would like to see that hasn’t been done is for the officials who are dealing with Mississippi Phosphate to come pay a visit, take some toxic tests in this neighborhood so they will understand what we are talking about.”
Which is something that Barbara has done herself. “Here is what the sample basically showed of everything we are breathing in. This all came from a plastic chair off my porch.”
The current EPA cleanup plan is divided into three phases and is expected to be complete in 2020.
If you would like to be heard, the EPA will host a public meeting Thursday night from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Pascagoula Senior Center.