Living in a Contaminated World: Community Structures, Environmental Risks and Decision Frameworks

by Ellen Omohundro

Overview

Originally published in 2004. Using innovative methodology which considers both social and biophysical parameters to examine a range of mining and mineral production sites (including the controversial Superfund sites in the USA), this book focuses on how environmental regulators, local residents and other stakeholders work together to define the communities affected by environmental hazards and to assess the associated health impacts. It also questions the social factors which frame community-level decision-making about environmental risks, such as shared history, community identity, control in local decisions, distribution of power among local institutions, and participation in decisions about environmental risks and mitigation. The book argues that a better understanding of such factors would not only permit the development of more informed policies, but would also provide opportunities to improve community involvement in mitigation efforts.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781138356405
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	10/12/2020
Series:	Routledge Revivals
Pages:	222
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.19(h) x (d)

Table of Contents

Contents: Bringing community into environmental decision-making: an overview of the theoretical orientation; Methods: new strategies for old problems; Defining environmental risks: an overview of the superfund process; This land is whose land? the role of shared history and community identity in environmental decision-making; Defining environmental risks: the case of Teledyne Wah Chang Albany, Oregon; Defining environmental risks: the case of the Dawn Mining Company, Washington; Public participation in environmental decision-making: what is it and when does it work?; Lessons learned about community structure and environmental decision-making: where do we go from here?; Appendices; Bibliography; Index.