Assessment of Incineration as a Treatment Method for Liquid Organic Hazardous Wastes. Background Report 5. Public Concerns Regarding Land-Based and Ocean-Based Incineration

摘要

The volume addresses public attitudes and concerns which affect the siting and permitting of hazardous waste incinerators. The analysis is based on interviews and public hearings transcripts concerning twelve incinerator permitting actions in which there has been substantial public opposition. In general, ocean incineration has caused a greater degree of public opposition than most land-based incinerators. This is primarily because the perceived impact of land-based incineration is very localized, whereas ocean incineration is thought by some citizens to potentially affect an entire region: the port community, all the communities along the coastline near the burn site, and the marine environment. While the source of opposition to both ocean and land incinerators has been primarily from local communities, ocean incineration is unique in also being actively opposed by some multi-state coalitions of civic, business, and environmental groups, and by some national environmental groups.