MIEH FINAL REVIEW

Robert Burns Ward Transformer Company

Trucking company hired to dispose of PCB-laden transformer fluid, but they sprayed it on soil along North Carolina’s highways instead to cut costs.

RCRA

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976; dictates that substances such as the transformer fluid should be disposed of at specialized facilities.

Dioxins

Found in the transformer fluid; cause reproductive problems, immune system damage, interfere with hormones, carcinogenic

PCBs

Polychlorinated biphenyls; cause increased rates of melanomas, liver cancer, gall bladder cancer, gastrointestinal tract cancer, and brain cancer

TSCA

Toxic Substance Control Act created bc of the Love Canal disaster; helped jail and fine Robert Ward and trucking company dumpers

Warren County, North Carolina

Iconic lo for the boom of EJ movement; 65% AA, low income (97th of 100 for NC’s GDP)

Warren County Protests

Hundreds of protesters over course of 4 years against landfill installation; Governor ultimately signed off on landfill despite public sentiment. Landfill eventually cleaned June 2001-Dec 2003 due to toxic water accumulated due to rainfall.

1991: First POC Environmental Leadership Summit

Broadened the EJ movement beyond toxic chemicals to public health and environmental issues like worker safety. Transportation, housing, etc.

1992: EPA Office of EJ

Provides technical and financial assistance to integrate EJ into EPA policies, programs, and activities; created at recommendation of Environmental Equity Workgroup

Which president signed Fed Actions to Address EJ in Minority and Low Income Populations?

Bill Clinton

Federal Actions to Address EJ in Minority and Low Income Populations

First major federal action for EJ in the U.S.; brought attention to and acknowledged the premise of EJ

Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL)

Standing Rock Sioux Tribe protested against pipeline construction under Missouri River near their rez in North Dakota. Water supply risks, sacred lands, cultural heritage.

Indigenous communities are most affected by…

Environmental harm, land degradation, pollution, and violation of treaty rights

SWOP

Southwest Organizing Project; advocate for racial and gender equality + economic justice

Indigenous Environmental Network

Founded in 1990 to help indigenous people organize and find ways to protect themselves and environments in the face of environmental injustice

Common Law

Law developed based on preceding rulings by judges.

Statutory Law

Written laws passed by legislature and government of a country eventually accepted by the society.

Were there actual environmental laws pre-1945?

Hell nah boo. Just laws that protected national parks like Yosemite and Yellowstone.

Policy Cycle (DPLLC)

1. Debate/discussion

2. Political action

3. Legislative proposal

4. Law and regulation

5. Compliance

List at least 3 key differences between policy and law.

• Law passed by fed, state, and local gov; policy passed by private or public organizations

• Law is formal(future intent), policies are informal (implemented into society)

• Laws must be followed and measured, policies are actions proposed to improve an aspect of society

• Policies can become laws, laws can’t become policies

Federal system of law and policy

1. Constitution to 3 branches of government

2. EPA receives then delegates implementation and enforcement to state agencies

Regulation Agencies

WHO to National EPA to State Agencies

WHO

• World Health Organization; founded alongside UN in 1948 post WWII to make health a human right

• Responds to outbreaks and provides guidance on health issues

• NAWT a world health police

• Leads to minimizes adverse environmental health outcomes associated with pollution, industrial development, etc.

U.S. EPA (Who established them and what’s their mission?)

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; established by President Nixon and Congress in 1970 bc of public demand for clean water, air, and land

• Mission: protect human health and the environment, recently included equity + EJ

National Environmental Policy Act

• Broad, first law established to protect environment

• Holds government accountable for considering environmental effects before making decisions that impact it

Clean Air Act 1970

• Regulates air emissions from mobile and stationary sources

• Authorizes EPA establish air quality standards and emission standards (companies need permits to release hazardous material)

• Established criminal sanctions for non compliance

Clean Water Act 1972

• Used to be Federal Water Pollution Act of 1948

• First to address water pollution

• Regulates pollutants discharged into U.S. waters

FIFRA 1972

Regulation of pesticides distribution, use, and sale

All pesticides must be licensed by the EPA

TSCA 1976

Toxic Substance Control Act

Regulates introduction of new or existing chemicals

+83000 in TSCA inventory

CERCLA 1980

• Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act

• Provides federal Superfunds to clean up waste

• They hunt down those responsible for the hazardous waste and make ‘em help w/ cleaning, ikdr

Endangered Species Act 1973

Program responsible for conservation of endangered plants and animals + their habitats

Why was lead added to gasoline back then?

“Engine knock” from fuel combustion.

Lead reduced occurrence of engine knock + improved vehicle performance

What was wrong with lead being used for gasoline?

Became a public health concern: adverse health effects including lead poisoning, neurological damage in children, and air pollution

Absorption of lead in children

5-q0 times greater than in adults; BBB not complete until 10 years old, lead crosses placenta, impacts neurological development

What is the most common EJ problem among children in the United States?

Lead poisoning. They tried to set a max level of lead in bloodstream but the reality is that no level is safe!

Minamata Bay Incident

Mercury poisoning in Minamata due to corporation dumping tons of mercury into the bay. Bioaccumulation of mercury up the food chain led to severe defects in residents of the town and animals like the cats.

Cadmium

• Found in batteries, electronics, metal coatings, etc.

• Exposure through ingestion, tobacco smoke, drinking water, inhalation

• Health effects: lung irritation, bone degeneration emphysema, cancer

Arsenic

• Pure crystalline found in soil and water (even drinking)

• Used commercially for pesticides and wood preservatives

• Cancer causing, cardiovascular + neurological implications

Kingston Fossil Fuel Plant

Coal related incident that resulted in spill of coal slurry(fine, wet coal ash) layer slippage

Clean up workers suffered major cardiovascular and lung conditions from inhaling dust

What’s the most abundant fossil fuel?

Coal!

Deepwater Horizon Incident

Petroleum incident @Gulf of Mexico where oil rig exploded and killed 11 workers. Rig sank and gallons of oil were released into the ocean, contaminating nearby ecosystems and wildlife

Which is more potent as a greenhouse gas, methane or CO2?

Methane actually!