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Crossett, AR

Crossett, Arkansas, has a population of about 5,500 residents and is located in southeastern Arkansas just nine miles north of the state's border with Louisiana.  Residents from one of Crossett’s predominantly African-American neighborhoods have been concerned for many years about air emissions and water discharges from a local industrial facility.

EPA built on previous work in Crossett by researching additional support to address community concerns under the Making a Visible Difference effort.  EPA addressed the findings of the National Enforcement Investigation Center report for inspections conducted at the paper facility in February 2015. 

The EPA Region 6 Office of Environmental Justice, Tribal and International Affairs built on previous engagement with the community by providing a forum for residents to ask questions on the report findings and finalizing a draft health consultation for the community. 

EPA Region 6 also finalized its review of the Action Plan and used the feedback received to continue working with its partners in addressing community concerns.  In August 2016, Crossett's issues were highlighted at the five-state Environmental Justice Summit.

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