Expanding the Definition of Environmental Justice in Superfund Redevelopment: A Case Study of the American Creosote Works,Inc. Site

Abstract

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) is responsible for the oversight of the federal Superfund program. Through the Superfund program, the USEPA remediates and redevelops the nation's most hazardous sites. Due to disenfranchisement and less political power, minority populations and lower income communities are the most common demographics near Superfund sites. With a focus on environmental justice (EJ), the USEPA attempts to ensure fair treatment of all demographics regarding environmental matters. Yet, the residents of these historically disenfranchised neighborhoods are often economically displaced by a whiter and wealthier demographic once a Superfund site is remediated. Displacement can be attributed to gentrification causing increases in property values. When the marginalized residents—who suffered the brunt of industrial development—are displaced, rich homeowners benefit by acquiring redeveloped property. Within Pensacola, Florida, the American Creosote Works, Inc. Superfund site is planned to be redeveloped into a passive park. The surrounding neighborhoods are predominantly lower income or belong to a minority population. Through a case study, we address the potential for gentrification-caused displacement. Potential issues of environmental injustice are illustrated to better understand the shortcomings of the Superfund program. The purpose of this article is to point out a deficiency in the current USEPA standards of environmental injustice pertaining to displacement. This article concludes that the USEPA has issues of reactivity and needs to implement safeguards to ensure EJ after USEPA operations have ended.