Environmental Issues

Problem statement
The problem under study is the contribution of environmental injustice in favour of the white and wealthy community in the siting of the radioactive waste disposal facility in Texas (Rogers, 2004, pg 1).

Significance of the problem
Ecological studies in the United States conducted between 1978 and 1987 confirm that environmental injustice is a problem in the United States (Rogers, 2004, pg 1). Many hazardous facilities are located near the residences of minority populations. It is therefore important that scientific studies be conducted to establish the nature and degree of this inequity.

Literature used
1. Roger (2004) supports his paper with material from a wide array of journal articles and books on environmental justice and studies, and waste managements practices in the U.S. Rogers also incorporates several environment-related reports from various commissions, councils and government agencies.

Approach employed
The first task entailed a state-wide screening to identify suitable areas, and to examine potential siting areas using six-point criteria.

Potential sites were identified while locations which were least favourable were eliminated.

Studies were then conducted to eliminate sites which would be unavailable for the disposal site due to technical or legal complications.

State-owned parcels of land were then evaluated for suitability for the siting of the waste disposal facility.
Finally, the remaining potential sites were re-evaluated, a process which led to the selection of the Faskin Ranch as the most suitable.

Basic findings
The suitability of potential sites declined with coastal high-hazard, average annual rainfall, and the presence of a major aquifer.

Population density and growth lower the likelihood of siting of the waste disposal facility.

Higher household income, value of housing and percentage of college-educated residents lower the suitability of the site

The proportion of people living in poverty is positively related to the likelihood of being selected
The higher the percentage of black residents is negatively related to the likelihood of selection (Rogers, 2004, pg 8-9).

Implications
1. Environmental injustice is a problem not only in the U.S. but also in other countries. Poor and minority communities the world over suffer most from the effects of pollution and man-made hazards. The findings of the study is that the U.S. is making serious efforts towards ensuring that poor and minority communities are assured of environmental justice.

Critique
1. Even after these seemingly thorough selection process, there is still a positive relationship between poverty and the likelihood of selection of a locality for the siting of a waste disposal facility. This suggests that the process still has biases against minority communities.