ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a partial review of the developments since the publication of "Toxic Wastes and Race in the United States." The findings of the Commission for Racial Justice's research was compiled in the report, "Toxic Wastes and Race in the United States." The racial composition of a community was found to be the single variable best able to explain the existence or non-existence of commercial hazardous waste facilities in a given community area. Since the Warren County incident, there has been a remarkable upsurge in minority communities taking up the struggle around environmental concerns. The United Church of Christ Commission for Racial Justice report made a number of recommendations to federal agencies, including the US Environmental Protection Agency. Consideration of the racial and socio-economic status of a community when dealing with hazardous wastes is critical from a public health perspective. The hazardous waste issue has become very much linked to the state of the economy in a given community.
