Despite the many hazardous waste sites that have caused problems in the United States in recent years, Love Canal may still be the most infamous. The site was originally an unfinished canal that was constructed in the 1890’s. The land was sold in 1920 and began to be used as a dump site for Chemical waste produced by Hooker Chemical Corporation. The site was also used by the United States Army and it is believed that waste from the Manhattan project was deposited in the canal along with the industrial byproducts dumped by Hooker.

    The land was sold in 1953 to the Board of Education for 1 dollar and for the inexpensive price Hooker Chemical was assured no future liability for the site. A school was constructed on the site in 1954 and homebuilding soon followed. By the late 1970’s people began to know something was wrong in Love Canal mainly due to the strange odors and chemicals that would seep up through the soil. The Calspan Company conducted initial tests in the area in 1976 discovering numerous toxic waste hazards. Recommendations were made for their removal and containment, but they were ignored by the city. In March of 1978 The New York State Department of Health stepped in and found high rates of birth defects in the area along with the dangerous waste. The problem was so bad that President Carter issued environmental emergencies and evacuated all 950 families in a 10 block radius.

When the government finally assumed responsibility at Love Canal a strategy of containment was undertaken. A clay cap was placed on top of the hazardous waste site and an underground drainage system was installed to collect the leachate that had been seeping into the ground. This system is now 20 years old and residents may want to update this system or remove some of the waste that has been lying dormant under their homes for years.

    The first question deals with the income level of the respondents. People that may choose to live in an area like Love Canal, where there are known health risks, may do so for financial reasons. One would think if an inhabitant of the Love Canal area had the means, that person would move to a safe neighborhood. This question is important because if the respondent can not afford to move, they may also not be able to, or willing to aid financially in any kind of cleanup. If the inhabitants of Love canal can not afford any further containment or removal of hazardous materials, maybe the government should assume a greater role. This information was given in the questionnaire, most respondents would presumably choose not to pay because they would know the government would be forced to if they pleaded hardship.

1. What income category would your family be classified in for the year 1998-1999?

Less than $25,000___

$25,000-50,000____

$50,000-75,000____

$75,000-100,000____

Greater than $100,000___

2. Are you married?
3. Do you have children? If you answered yes to this question, how many?
4. Do you plan on having more children in the next five years?
5. What is the highest level of education in your household?

Grade school___ High school___ College graduate____

Graduate school___

 

 

1. What would you consider your level of knowledge about the history of the Love Canal?

Very knowledgeable____

Somewhat knowledgeable___

Little or no knowledge___

2. Are you aware of the birth defects and other health impacts associated with the Love Canal area?

Very knowledgeable____

Somewhat knowledgeable___

Little or no knowledge___

Scenarios

The first question will ask your level of comfort in raising a child in the Love Canal area. The comfort levels will be determined as follows:

____

1. very uncomfortable
2. somewhat uncomfortable
3. comfortable
4. very comfortable

The second question will seek your opinion on your households desired level of waste removal in the Love Canal area.

1. no removal
2. further containment
3. total removal

1. no removal- No removal of waste would mean that no additional action will be taken in the Love canal area. The respondents should choose this option if they are comfortable with the current containment at Love Canal.
2. further containment- This option means that the respondent is interested in increasing and updating the containment system already in place in the Love Canal waste site.
3. total removal- This option would involve the total removal of waste materials from the Love Canal site. This would be expensive and probably involve most people relocating from the area.

The third question will ask the level of financial assistance your family will be willing to pay per year for the remediation of the waste situation in the Love Canal. This assistance will be collected in the form of taxes collected from residents within the initial 10 block radius declared by the federal government.

We ask you to rate the top 5 scenarios you would choose with 1 being the most desirable.