ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the methods and design components utilized to examine the issues, including case selection, operational premises, data collection, data analysis strategies, and methodological implications. There are additional reasons justifying the employment of a mixture of methods. The nature of the issues, economic burdens, and strongly litigative context associated with National Priority List sites require design flexibility in order to uncover the true manner in which these decisions take place. The historical documents comprise a wide range of sources. The initial sampling frame comprised of key environmental regulators, industrial entities and community members involved in site assessment and mitigation activities as identified in historical documents. Additional documents obtained from the Environmental Protection Agency’s administrative files through the Freedom of Information Act include hazard rating scores, site inspection reports, site descriptions and fact sheets, public involvement plans, public meeting transcripts, and public comments.
