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NIMBY and TIMBY: What`s the difference?

Conference ·
OSTI ID:205288
 [1]
  1. Oklahoma State Univ., Stillwater, OK (United States). School of Geology

Dozens of studies of the so-called ``NIMBY syndrome`` have been published since 1977. Almost all have examined community resistance to the siting of ``noxious`` facilities. Virtually ignored in the literature, however, is the related political phenomenon of ``TIMBY`` or ``threats in my back yard``. In NIMBY, community residents want to keep threats out of their backyards. In TIMBY, the threats are already there and the residents want to get them out. Ironically, if a proposed Superfund remedy includes the siting of an on-site treatment facility, then the community may see itself as victimized by both threats. This paper presents part of the results of a two year study of five communities in Oklahoma. Three had experienced hazardous waste siting NIMBY controversies and two had experienced TIMBY controversies associated with hazardous waste releases, including petroleum hydrocarbons. Citizen activists, state and local government officials, and industry representatives who had been involved in these controversies were interviewed. Their perspectives were revealed by open-ended interviews and factor analysis of Q sorts.

OSTI ID:
205288
Report Number(s):
CONF-951139--
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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