ENVIRONMENTAL EQUITY IN SUPERFUND - DEMOGRAPHICS OF THE DISCOVERY ANDPRIORITIZATION OF ABANDONED TOXIC SITES

This article presents findings of the first national tract-level analy sis of the distribution of residential characteristics, including the percentage of selected minorities and socioeconomically disadvantaged groups, in relation to uncontrolled toxic waste sites (i.e., CERCLIS a nd NPL sites). In contrast to prevailing notions, the authors find tha t uncontrolled toxic waste sites are not disproportionately located in minority neighborhoods or neighbourhood of socioeconomically disadvan taged residents. However; multivariate analyses of site distribution a nd a hazard regression analysis of the site prioritization process sug gest that communities with a higher percentage of Black residents are less likely to receive NPL (National Priorities List) designation, del aying potential remediation. Biases in the prioritization process are, however substantively small.