From Love Canal to Environmental Justice: The Politics of Hazardous Waste on the Canada-US Border

Dr. Patrick W. Colgan is the director of Research and Natural Lands at
the Royal Botanical Gardens.

Fletcher has written an excellent analysis of how hazardous waste poses
problems of environmental justice. The preface frames the book by
comparing environmental with social justice, addressing individual risks
and toxicities, and contrasting the governmental agencies in Canada and
the United States. The introduction focuses on a possible solution for
Toronto’s garbage crisis (i.e., shipping it to Kirkland Lake).

Part 1, “Love Canal and Hazardous Waste Policy,” considers the
issues of hazardous waste and environmental justice generally. For each
nation, policies are compared and the roles of different participants
are delineated. Love Canal has become iconic and hence the detailed
account, with interpretation of public attitudes and the key role of the
Federal Environmental Protection Agency and the associated Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act. A similar analysis of legislation and
procedures is provided for Canada, especially heavily industrialized
Ontario.

Part 2, “Viewpoints,” examines 10 case studies drawn from Michigan,
New York, and Ontario in two regions—Niagara and Detroit/Sarnia. The
industrial history of Niagara is contrasted with the current New York
policy of “equitable geographic distribution.” The case studies are
examined in terms of defining facility need, selecting facility
features, and promoting fairness in siting. The bitter conclusion for
Niagara, New York, is that “communities saw no relief through either
geographic equity or procedural assistance from the existing
disproportionate burdens of hazardous waste that they presently face.”
Examination of the Detroit/Sarnia region produced similar findings.

In Part 3, “Interpretations,” Fletcher argues that there is a
“fundamental contradiction in hazardous waste policy between capacity
assurance objectives and pollution prevention initiatives.” He
examines different sorts of relevant equities (spatial, social,
cumulative, intergenerational, and procedural) in order to make an
overall assessment. He focuses on key elements such as the makeup of
panels and a “mutual gains” approach to negotiations, an approach
that enables him to tie in broader social aspects such as race and
class.

This fine book is thoroughly researched and maintains a good balance of
general discussion and case studies, as well as of Canadian and U.S.
material. The style is direct and forthright. Tables and figures are
used effectively, and the table of acronyms is very helpful. Everyone
concerned about pollution should read this book.