Risk factors for environmental injustices Kettleman Hills Hazardous Waste Facility

kettleman city protest

issues of environmental justice pertinent largely minority population kettleman city community studies show blacks , respondents @ lower educational levels, , lesser degree, lower income levels more live within mile of polluting facility. greenaction, san francisco-based environmental justice organization, has been working local community document cases of infant deaths , believes there issues of environmental injustice due city s demographics. within kettleman city s population 25 years or older, 30% have completed high school or equivalent, , 56.4% have less 9th grade education. majority of residents mexico , spanish-speaking. in 2000 census, median household income $22,409 , 43.7% of population living below poverty level. compared population, kettleman city residents younger, , more rent rather own homes.

environmental justice principally concerned people’s , communities’ entitlement equal protection of environmental , public health laws , regulations. there 3 separate perspectives on why environmental injustices exist: economic, sociopolitical, , racial. however, 3 categories not mutually exclusive, considering that, example, economic motives may coincide sociopolitical factors.

economic explanations argue industry not intentionally discriminating against racial, ethnic, or poor minority groups. industry trying maximize profits , siting new facility in areas land cheap serves maximize profits. industrial labor pools , manufacturing materials tend cheaper in aspect well. racial , socioeconomic composition of community may subsequently change addition of waste facility. ensuing negative health , environmental impacts result in flight of affluent residents more desirable neighborhoods, subsequently driving land values lower. thus, depression of property values results in influx of poor , people of color housing becomes more affordable.

sociopolitical explanations argue industry , government seek path of least resistance when siting new hazardous waste facilities. in effort avoid controversy, sites located in areas communities least capable of mounting opposition. more plainly, facilities located in areas communities not capable politicize , oppose new factory. further, communities without high degree of pre-existing social capital low levels of voting behavior, home ownership, wealth, , disposable income more vulnerable high concentrations of polluting facilities other communities.

racial discrimination explanations illustrate although present-day siting decisions may based on rational desire place new facilities in areas have been zoned industrial, these wind disproportionately in communities composed of people of color because of past discriminatory decisions line industrial zones. current decisions may seem facially neutral may have discriminatory outcomes because of past discriminatory actions