DaJohn Hart - Environmental Justice Thesis Presentation
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Transcript of DaJohn Hart - Environmental Justice Thesis Presentation
Energy Justice
By: DaJohn Hart
The Problem
Lack of Environmental Justice– Energy companies: • Extraction sites near poor communities
–Citizens• Not fully informed• Taken advantage of • Suffer health problems
– Environmental damage
The Problem (continued)
Example: Hydraulic FracturingWhat? • Water mix with toxins forced into rocks
Harm Caused • Toxic waste – Goes in nearby communities’ drinking water and air– Spreads to other areas
Figure 1
Figure 2 Figure 3
The Problem (continued)
Example: Mountaintop RemovalWhat? • Blowing up mountains to access and extract coal
Harm Caused• Waste covers rivers, schools, and family graveyards• Toxins enter the environment• Modifies natural contours and displaces wildlife
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Constitutionality
• Commerce Clause: Federal government has the power to regulate interstate commerce
• Supremacy Clause: All States must abide by federal law
• Tenth Amendment: Reserved powers to the States
State and Federal Government Balance
Mountaintop removal: Appalachian mountain area: extractionSent to power plants throughout the East coast– More than one state, therefore Commerce Clause
Hydraulic Fracturing: Mariellus Shale: multiple states Waste and product throughout the United States– More than one state, therefore Commerce Clause
Does environmental protection justify a loss in economic development?
Loss IS Justified• Increased public safety &
health• Job creation in “green”
industries
Babbitt v. Sweet Home Chapter of Communities for a Great Oregon:– SCOTUS protected
environment over economic development
Loss IS NOT Justified• Negative impact on
urbanization • Negative impact on job
creation
Mariellus Shale: – More than 60,000 jobs
created
Does environmental protection justify a loss in economic development?
Does environmental protection justify a loss in energy independence?
Loss IS Justified
• Promotes innovation– Job creation– Global competitiveness
• Protects Public Health
Loss IS NOT Justified
• Negative economic impact– Higher prices/inflation– Job loss– Return to recession
Should local, state, or federal government, make environmental policy?
• Federal Government: – Make sure States meet federal requirements– Focus on issues that affect multiple States
• State Government: – Focus on State level environmental problems – Meet Federal environmental regulations– Focus on issue that affect multiple jurisdiction within its borders
• Local: – Focus on local environmental problems – Focus on issues with its borders
• District of Columbia should gain “home rule” powers to create and enforce environmental policies.
Political Acceptability
Problem Hydraulic Fracturing Mountaintop Removal
Favorable Public Opinion A majority of people are in favor of hydraulic fracturing
A majority oppose Mountaintop Removal, but are in favor of coal use
Cost A single well costs more than $7.6 million
$100 million annually to extract from one mountain
Proven Effectiveness Laws have yet to correct the problem
Laws have yet to correct the problem
Proposed/Traditional Policies
• Traditional:– There are no Traditional laws to limited Fracturing
or Mountaintop Removal in a way that supports environmental justice• Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act
• Proposed:– Hydraulic fracturing companies must disclose
substances used after “fracking” is complete.
Alternative Policy: Energy Justice Policy
• Require full disclosure before coal, “fracking,” or similar operations begin
• Require an agreement to terms with full information and without coercion.
• Imminent domain should never apply in these cases.
Closing
• Although domestic energy self-sufficiency is important, it should not be at the expense of environmental justice or public health.
Work Cited • http://definitions.uslegal.com/e/environmental-racism/• http://earthjustice.org/features/campaigns/what-is-mountaintop-removal-mining• http://www.earthworksaction.org/issues/detail/hydraulic_fracturing_101#HEALTH• http://mountainjustice.org/facts/steps.php• http://web.mit.edu/polisci/mpepp/Reports/Econ%20Impact%20Enviro%20Reg.pdf• http://web.mit.edu/polisci/mpepp/Reports/Econ%20Impact%20Enviro%20Reg.pdf• www.epa.gov/hydraulicfracture/• http://ddoe.dc.gov/service/environmental-protection• http://dccityzen.com/?p=20238• http://
www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/29/AR2007092900959.html• http://www.epa.gov/hydraulicfracture/• http://www.epa.gov/hydraulicfracture/• http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2012/05/obama-administration-to-pass-new-laws-to-li
mit-fracking-obama-kills-more-jobs/