Environmental justice, or EJ is the application of law on the environment, its use and its protection. According to experts at the advocacy group EJOLT only about 35% of cases of environmental injustice in the US reach some sort of conclusion, compared to 17% of global cases. These numbers clearly show that environmental justice is certainly not served in the majority of cases. Regardless, in many cases, justice is served and an ultimate conclusion of sorts played out. Let’s take a look at five, different cases of environmental justice, fully served as well as in the works.
Pittston Coal – 1972
Set right next to mines operated by Pittston Coal Company, many towns did benefit from steady work and commerce created by this important mining company of the time. This benefit as it turned out, was not to outweigh the disaster to take place in February of 1972. Pittston Coal would wipe out 17 towns, killing and displacing thousands, and cause an environmental nightmare in addition.
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As a result of the company’s mining, water and sludge bi-products collected uphill from the towns, creating new waterways backed by a series of “sludge dams”. Despite knowledge of an impending ecological and human disaster, the company continued business as usual. On February 25, the resulting dams gave way, wiping out an entire region. In the end, due its failures in oversight, the State of Colorado actually settled with everyone involve. To this day, state and federal resources assist in continuing efforts to fix the land there.
Exxon – 1989
One of the most well-known incidents of environmental disaster and environmental justice comes in the form of the Exxon Valdez Disaster of 1989. At the time, the Exxon Valdez, an oil tanker carrying 38-million gallons of crude oil ran aground at Prince William Sound’s Bligh Reef, just offshore of Alaska. The scale of the disaster was enormous, wiping out ocean life for thousands of miles and for years to come. Outside of cleanup responsibility, Exxon paid billions in fines and litigation in the end.
Chevron Refining – 1993
We can see EJ play out fully in the classic Chevron case of 1993. At the time, Chevron wanted to expand its hazardous wastes and other chemical operations in Richmond, California. Despite much opposition based on health concerns for local residents and the environment, Chevron went ahead with plans. Citizens in the area then grouped together, forming a fighting coalition – West County Toxics Coalition. The coalition was able to go on to secure a judicial compromise with Chevron allowing it to continue some limited activity in exchange for a $5,000,000 grant to fund city wellness and environmental programs of the future. West County Toxics Coalition continues to serve the environmental cause to this day.
BP – 2010
In 2010, arguably the worst ecological disaster in history took place. At the time, oil company, BP had been pumping oil from the ocean floor in the Gulf of Mexico. The rig doing the pumping exploded and the result was a rupture in the live, pressurized, underwater oil pipeline. There was no known way to stop the leak as millions of gallons of oil spilled out by the minute.
Eventually, an experimental procedure successfully “capped” the well head, stopping the emergency none too soon. Regardless, the amounts of ecological and human damage by that time were nearly incalculable. Cleanup efforts and the loss are still experienced today despite years gone by and billions in lawsuits, government levies, criminal prosecutions, and cleanup funds.
The Fracking Controversy – 2016
Fracking is a relatively new technology in which pressurized liquids are used to break into underground, oil and natural gas resources. Much debate has revolved around the process and its environmental implications until recently, when much of this debate was hardened into cold facts. Duke University researchers recently proved the existence of pollution in surrounding-area water tables, proving environmental damage as being a direct result of the process. Now, hearings and litigation are gearing up and beginning to fully address the subject. This example of EJ is one that is ongoing and as of yet, unresolved.
In conclusion, we only have one Earth to live on, and it’s important that we take care of it for future generations that don’t yet have a voice in the matter. These five examples of judicial approach in matters of the environment are quite telling of current stances as well as room for improvement in practices. For more detailed information on the world of environmental justice, visit the US Environmental Protection Agency website.
