Cherokee Forest already functions as a de facto buffer between heavy industry and the rest of Pascagoula. Their homes and yards absorbs noise, air pollutants, storm surge, and industrial runoff before nearly any other part of the city. 

Project Technical Advisory Panel (TAP) traveled to Pascagoula to gain firsthand insight into the neighborhood’s conditions and contribute their expertise toward developing a strong relocation and restoration plan.

While this is true of most homes in Pascagoula, the term "high-risk" takes on far deeper meaning for Cherokee Forest residents. Their neighborhood is situated at the edge of Pascagoula’s industrial corridor –in the shadow of heavy industry, shipbuilding and petrochemical plants.

MDEQ used insufficient instruments to conduct community air monitoring