ABSTRACT
The class dimension to the environmental injustice thesis that maintains that poor communities are targeted for environmental hazards. Land is cheap in poor areas, possibly because of existing industry. Pollution potential is a precondition of the levels of environmental harm selected for study at the state, county, and city levels. These harms exist within a context of large populations that are relatively densely situated in areas of high manufacturing capacity. "Government capacity" refers to resources that are devoted to dealing with any societal problem. One means of assessing capacity is the financial resources of a government unit. Indeed, high government spending has been shown to reduce levels of water pollution and other environmental problems at the state level. State-level public opinion can create a climate that affects all aspects of state life, including actions within counties and cities that are part of the state.
