Shipping Fracking Wastes on the Ohio River: A Case Study in Effective Public Advocacy and How Citizen Groups Can Do Even Better

Environmental Justice. October 2017, 10(5): 137-153. doi/10.1089/env.2017.0011

Posted: 1 Nov 2017

Date Written: October 1, 2017

Abstract

When a publicly held company proposed shipping wastewaters from fracking sites in the Marcellus Shale by barge over the Ohio River, public sentiment was strong. The people of Appalachia had suffered water contamination from accidents involving extractive industries numerous times in the past. This case study used qualitative methods to evaluate and measure public participation in permit proceedings in both the United States Coast Guard and the Army Corps of Engineers. Our study highlighted public success in defeating the proposal to allow shipping of fracking waste by barge on rivers in the United States, but confirms the findings of earlier studies showing difficulties individual citizens have in effectively participating and engaging in federal permit and rulemaking proceedings. The study suggests that to reduce environmental injustices in future proceedings, federal agencies issuing permits and engaged in rulemakings should adapt procedures to expand Internet availability of dockets.

Suggested Citation

Geltman, Elizabeth, Shipping Fracking Wastes on the Ohio River: A Case Study in Effective Public Advocacy and How Citizen Groups Can Do Even Better (October 1, 2017). Environmental Justice. October 2017, 10(5): 137-153. doi/10.1089/env.2017.0011, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3062944

Elizabeth Geltman (Contact Author)

CUNY School of Public Health ( email )

55 W 125th St
New York, NY 10027
United States

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Abstract Views
283
PlumX Metrics