This dissertation empirically examines Superfund, the federal program that remediates the nation's worst abandoned and uncontrolled hazardous waste sites. The first chapter explores the influence of Superfund participation on current hazardous waste generated under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). I model hazardous waste generation as a function of programmatic, political, economic and social variables. I test this model using Ordinary Least Squares regression. Results indicate that economic variables are the most influential factors affecting hazardous waste generation. When Superfund participation influences waste generation, it is in an unexpected direction: participation is associated with increased waste generation. The second chapter examines environmental progress in the Superfund program. Specifically, this research explores why some sites are more likely to reach “construction complete” than others. Logistic regression is used to test four theoretical models of Superfund remedial progress: (1) Administrative convenience; (2) Problem Severity; (3) Political Pressure; and (4) Intergovernmental Coordination. The results indicate that the EPA is much more likely to tackle “easier” sites within the program and intergovernmental cooperation facilitates site remediation. Surprisingly, community groups are associated with decreased remedial progress. Chapter three explores the influence of community groups on remedy selection at Superfund sites. I create two models of EPA decision-making: (1) bureaucratic professionalism; and (2) bureaucratic responsiveness. I use ordinal logistic regression to test these two models. The results suggest that community groups do not systematically impact agency decision-making. Rather, this analysis indicates that the EPA is more likely to select stringent health protective remedies at sites where the agency has tracked down a responsible party. Site severity also influences remedy selection: more health protective remedies are selected at higher risk sites.
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