copyright PMunday Cleaning it Up: The Role of Culture, Community & Values Pat Munday, PhD Professor of Science & Technology Studies
copyright PMunday America’s Largest Superfund Site
copyright PMunday Montana NRDP Silver Bow Creek (before)
copyright PMunday NRDP Photo Toxic Wasteland
copyright PMunday NRDP Photo Tailings Removal
copyright PMunday NRDP Photo Stream Reconstruction
copyright PMunday M Vincent photo Authentic Restoration
copyright PMunday Timeline of Superfund Process 1980: Superfund (CERCLA, NPL) 1982: Silver Bow Creek studied; NPL : in-depth studies; alternatives developed (state as lead agency) 1994: Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (up to $87 mill for remedy) 1995: Record of Decision 1999: NRD settlement
copyright PMunday Public Participation: Overview Phase I: “The Fourth Branch” ( ) –The Montana Standard (Foote and O’Brien) –U.S. Representative Pat Williams –Inception of “the restoration economy” Phase II: “Thick Democracy,” –EPA realizes obligation for public participation –Rise & fall of CTEC (“Citizens Technical Environmental Committee”) TAG –Competition with B-SB
copyright PMunday Estimated Cost (1995 dollars) for Alternative Remedies Proposed Remedy Millions of Dollars
copyright PMunday Key Issues STARS –“Streambank Tailings and Revegetation Studies:” in situ treatment –Reclamation Research Unit, MSU + Schafer & Associates Waste repository –Many small vs. one large regional (Opportunity or Browns Gulch) –Initial ROD: many small repositories…
copyright PMunday Alternatives “Remedies” The Greenway –MERDI (ARCO-funded) –Suspicion of co-option Supported by BLDC, ALDC, BSB Chamber of Commerce, B-SB & A-DL government –Little explicit public support (18/321) ARCO Alternative –Little public support (18/321)
copyright PMunday Support re: “Greenway” Don Peoples, MERDI “…[the proposed alternative] seems unreasonable and dangerous… [It] eliminates the likelihood that ARCO will participate in the building of a greenway.”
copyright PMunday Public Suspicion re: “Greenway” George Waring, CTEC “…the MERDI “Greenway” proposal has introduced an element of major confusion” “…local governments appeared to be basing their non-acceptance of the State’s proposed cleanup mainly on the political activity and all-out public relations campaign undertaken by MERDI and ARCO.”
copyright PMunday Public Participation in ROD CTEC’s public meetings, newsletters 321 total comments STARS: 36 for; 144 against Waste repository: Public comment favored Berkeley Pit/Yankee Doodle Tailings Pond; opposed Brown’s Gulch Majority (174/321) for Alt. 6 or 7 Organizations commenting: 31
copyright PMunday Record of Decision State preferred Alternative 6 Alt. 6 chosen (with initial changes + more w/ NRDP)
copyright PMunday Actor Network Theory
copyright PMunday Actor Network Theory
copyright PMunday Actor Network Theory
copyright PMunday Actor Network Theory
copyright PMunday Actor Network Theory
copyright PMunday Actor Network Theory
copyright PMunday Actor Network Theory
copyright PMunday Actor Network Theory
copyright PMunday Grassroots Alliances CTEC (Butte) CLEJ (Butte)MEIC (Helena) CF-POC (Missoula) MTAC (Missoula) MT-TU (Missoula) TU-WC (Missoula) MTWF (Helena) NWF SSAI (Butte)
copyright PMunday Participation: Culture & Values Usual Frame –Utilitarianism vs. Environmentalism –Utilitarianism as economic, corporate model: “nature” is just another resource to be used as we see fit –Environmentalism: ecocentric, or nature-for-nature’s sake Another Frame: Cultural History & Politics –Butte’s “above/below ground” perspective –Grassroots similar to union solidarity Butte vs. other Superfund sites, e.g. Silver Valley
copyright PMunday The author thanks the National Science Foundation for supporting this work (Award ID ). Questions? America’s largest Superfund site Silver Bow Creek Superfund timeline Public participation—overview Key issues Alternative “remedies” Public participation in ROD Actor Network Theory Participation—culture & values