MIDFIELD, Ala. (WIAT) — For three years, an industrial plant in Midfield has been closed. Those who live near the plant said when work stopped, waste and equipment were left behind.

One woman reached out to INTERNEWSCAST News saying she was worried about the effect the materials were having on her health.

The plant was closed in 2022 after what records describe as a catastrophic fire. At that time, McCabe Industrial Minerals, who was leasing the plant from Dunn Construction, operated the plant. Following its closure, Dunn Construction took the property back over.

A letter obtained by INTERNEWSCAST News dated September 14, 2023, stated that Dunn Construction would be removing the “granular plant and all materials that are on that property.” Video taken last week by INTERNEWSCAST News shows the plant and materials remain.

“I have respiratory issues,” said Hillman Neighborhood President Jamall James. “We have a lot of seniors around here with breathing issues. They have asthma. They have all types of things. We have minors around here that have issues, with the season coming in with the pollen and everything else, and this stuff that actually making it harder for them to breath. It’s just extremely bad for them.”

The “stuff” James referred to is piles of industrial material left behind at the former McCabe Industrial Minerals Plant. The Hillman neighborhood is located in Birmingham. The plant is across the street in Midfield.

James, along with many of his neighbors like Tommie Ware, said the material is often spread across the road onto their cars, homes and into their lungs.

“I think about it because you breath all of that stuff,” Ware said.

“You worry about it and talk about, but what can you do about it?” Ware continued. “It’s just one of those things.”

INTERNEWSCAST News’ investigation into the plant revealed complaints and violations dating to 2020 from the Jefferson County Department of Health.

The complaints and violation notice mention fine dust particles spreading beyond the plant’s walls. Over the last few weeks, efforts have been made to start cleaning up some of the waste, which Midfield Mayor Gary Richardson said was initiated by a phone call he made to Dunn Construction.

“I don’t know actually what it is, whether it’s sand or whatever the particles were blowing across the street to our neighbors in Birmingham,” Richardson said. “So we were being good neighbors and decided to address their concern.”

Richardson said he wasn’t aware of the history of complaints and violations the plant had faced while in operation but said because the property is privately owned and zoned for industrial work, the city has limited authority.

“What I was told by the Jefferson County Department of Health was that falls under the purview of the Alabama Department of Environmental Management, ADEM, and all inspection of the site falls under ADEM,” Richardson said.

INTERNEWSCAST News’ attempts to reach the ADEM about the plant and what can be done about the materials left behind have been unsuccessful as of Tuesday night. James said he wants to see Dunn Construction do what it said it would in 2023.

“In addition to that, I would like to see a timeframe because you can leave it open ended,” James said. “Just like we said back in 2023, they said they would do it. This is two years later. They could say next week ‘We are going to remove it.’ When are they going to remove it? So I would like a definite timeframe, a definite end date or something close to it. That way, we know it will be removed, and it can be good for the people.”

INTERNEWSCAST News tried contacting Dunn Construction about its plans for clean up at the plant. After calls went unreturned, INTERNEWSCAST News visited its office. 

INTERNEWSCAST News was told Dunn Construction would be reaching out. As of Tuesday night, INTERNEWSCAST News is waiting for its response.

You can contact the INTERNEWSCAST Your Voice Your Station hotline by sending an email to yourvoice@cbs42.com or calling 205-488-4128.