A longitudinal analysis of environmental equity in communities with hazardous waste facilities

Early ''environmental equity'' studies claimed hazardous waste facilities (TSDFs) were disproportionately located in minority and disadvantaged communities. Recently, research has challenged such claims. Regardless of conclusions, no national study has evaluated inequity in the siting process or the impact of TSDFs on the demographic composition of communities after TSDFs began operations, or distinguished between TSDF-caused change and general population trends. This article presents findings from the first national tract-level longitudinal study of communities with TSDFs. We find no stark evidence of environmental inequity or disparate impact. Results suggest compositional change in host communities may best be explained by general population trends. (C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc.