Assignment #4-1 Newspaper Article Analysis

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/19/us/19PCB.html?_r=3&scp=5&sq=Cancer%20Alley&st=cse

This article published in June 19, 2008 in the New York Times is about problem that the Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCBs) inflicted the city of Port Arthur with a population of about 58,000 people in Texas, which is majority African-American. Environmental justice problem is also called “Environmental discrimination “or “Environmental racism” and has been being addressed by environmental organization such as Sierra Club and Greenpeace as well as EPA. These organizations often used the term, “Cancer Alley” in order to express the difficulties of area to suffer from the environmental injustice. The nickname of Port Arthur was called “Cancer Alley, the Armpit of Texas, Ring of Fire” according to the newspaper. The city became a chemical town by exposure to PCBs, which have been linked to cancer, brain and liver damage, skin rashes and harmful effects to the reproductive system. Therefore, the city had not been maintaining the health of the city in terms of environmental sustainability (Rast, p.253)

Despite a federal ban on importing the PCBs, the company, Veolia Environmental Services, has asked the Environmental Protection Agency for an exemption to move the chemicals and the EPA approved the request. However, environmental activists are opposed to a company’s request to burn PCBs from Mexico at its incinerator. Representatively, Hilton Kelley, a community activist, Dr. Allen Hershkowitz, a senior scientist, and Dr. Neil Carman, director of the Lone Star chapter of the Sierra Club disagreed to the plan. They argued that Jefferson County, where Port Arthur is located, has a cancer rate about 20 percent higher than the state average. African-American residents have complained that it has become a dumping ground for the nation’s toxic waste: “We have a right to a clean environment, and the nation sees us as expendable in the name of big business and it’s not fair to children”. Therefore, this case shows environmental hazards and is relevant to the environmental justice to include the disparities created by the lack of environmental services (Rast, p253).

We could expect a public hearing covering all of the players, from the incinerator lobbyists to local leaders, who might file a suit if the exemption is permitted. Therefore, stakeholders are residents of Port Arthur, particularly, African-American people, local government, EPA, the companies to bring the PCBs in the city, including Veolia Environmental Services, the incinerator producer, the environmental groups interested in the problem, such as Sierra Club, and PCBs expert. Namely, the residents are affected by the environmental problem in terms of health and equity. The companies are related to own business profit and the experts should present desirable guidance and knowledge. Government should well settle the problem to reach coordination.

The “quality of life” problem resulted from the pollutants is the principal justification for environmental justice (Rast, p251). As the evaluation of the opponents, the companies needed to pursue the “eco-efficiency” plan that environment can be protected through efficiency gains, such as cost saving by portable plants construction, rather than through actions that might limit prosperity. This more eco-friendly disposal alternatives can support human well-being over long term and contribute to the environmental sustainability of the city (Vig, p244-245).