Impact of Executive Order 12898 on Superfund Program Equity
Author Information
Author(s): Sandra O’Neil
Primary Institution: Curry College, Milton, Massachusetts, USA
Hypothesis
Has Executive Order 12898 affected the equitability of the Superfund program for minority and low-income populations?
Conclusion
The study found that Executive Order 12898 has not improved the equitability of the Superfund program for marginalized populations.
Supporting Evidence
- Superfund site listings in minority and poor areas are less likely despite the 1994 Executive Order.
- Minority populations have a lower chance of being placed on the Superfund list after the executive order.
- Income increases are associated with greater chances of Superfund listing.
Takeaway
The Superfund program, which cleans up hazardous waste sites, is not helping poor and minority communities as much as it should, even after a law was passed to help them.
Methodology
Event history analysis was used to evaluate the impact of Executive Order 12898 on Superfund listings.
Potential Biases
The analysis may be biased due to the exclusion of rural sites and the complexities of demographic influences on Superfund listings.
Limitations
The study's conclusions are based on a conservative measure of sites at risk of making the Superfund list.
Participant Demographics
The study focused on U.S. EPA Hazardous Ranking Scores and demographic data from census tracts.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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