Alabama's Black residents may finally see justice in landmark sewage case.

The Biden administration announced a landmark environmental justice agreement on Monday, which found that officials in Alabama discriminated against Black residents in a rural county by denying them access to adequate sanitation systems, imposing burdensome fines and liens, and ignoring the serious health risks plaguing the community. The agreement includes a series of actions that Alabama officials must follow through on, including suspending the enforcement of sanitation laws that result in criminal charges, fines, jail time and potential property loss for Lowndes residents who lack the means to purchase functioning septic systems, undertaking a comprehensive assessment of the septic and wastewater needs for residents in Lowndes, and creating a sustainable and equitable plan within one year to improve public health and infrastructure in Lowndes County.