Love Canal and the limits of scientific proof

Journal Article · · Natur. Res. Environ.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6907138

Levine, A G

Love Canal became the worldwide symbol of the legal, medical and political problems of toxic waste disposal. Moreover, Love Canal demonstrated once again that science does not exist in a social vacuum. The problems at Love Canal involved scientists in two decision-making contexts, administrative and judicial. Administratively, politicians and other government officials had to decide what to do for the affected people. Judicially, Love Canal raised issues of causation, liability, and damages. In both contexts scientist faced new problems in designing studies, gathering and interpreting data, and communicating results to government officials within a reasonable time. Government officials try to base decisions on facts, but the pressure to act often requires that they use the best available information, even though it may be uncertain or incomplete. Decisions, however, are based not only on fact, but upon a large variety of political and policy considerations that often go unvoiced. Thus, while decision makers are concerned about having reliable facts, they are also concerned about the process of producing and considering the facts and that the process itself appear fair. In a sense, decision makers want to create socially shared myths about what the past was, including issues of causation, liability, and damages, to make decisions about the future.

• Research Organization: State Univ. of New York, Buffalo
• OSTI ID: 6907138
• Journal Information: Natur. Res. Environ.; (United States), Journal Name: Natur. Res. Environ.; (United States) Vol. 2:2; ISSN NRENE
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290300 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Environment
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510200 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
520200* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
DATA ANALYSIS
DECISION MAKING
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
LAND POLLUTION
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
POLLUTION
RISK ASSESSMENT
TOXIC MATERIALS
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WATER POLLUTION