The problem revolves around the regulation of industrial arsenic output at an ASARCO copper smelting and glass manufacturing plant in Tacoma Washington. Arsenic is a known carcinogen with long term detrimental effects. Arsenic can also have adverse effects on plant and marine life, and can cause areas to become uninhabitable if it occupies the soil. The plant is the only one that uses a high arsenic core, which means that the arsenic output is quite high. This has affected several nearby areas, including Tacoma, Vashon Island, and Ruston. The most recent numbers show that 115 tons of arsenic are currently being emitted. This number would be reduced to 85 tons with the installation of the converter hoods. The plant employs the majority of
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The PSAPCA has achieved some level of success in getting Asarco to agree to installing equipment and instituting practices aimed at lowering pollution. Notably, Asarco agreed to install a secondary converted hood by 1984.
There are several objectives that must be kept in mind when making a decision regarding the EPA regulation of arsenic. First, the EPA must restore confidence in it’s ability to successfully regulate harmful substances while trying to avoid the image of a “job destroyer”. This will prevent feelings of insecurity nationwide. Secondly, the EPA must act in a way that is beneficial for the greatest number of individuals over time. This second goal therefore must take into account the effects that this choice will have on the townspeople of Tacoma, Ruston, and Vashon …show more content…
The outcome of this choice would be that the plant would close, leading to massive unemployment for the people of Ruston. This would be financially devastating and cause widespread enrollment in unemployment benefits. Additionally, job loss could result in morale loss and even have more dangerous psychological effects. However, the benefits of this choice would include setting a precedent for strict regulation of dangerous substances in the future. This would also be favored by the Tacoma and Vashon townspeople as well as the PSAPCA. In terms of security tradeoffs, individuals would feel much more secure about the ability of the EPA to protect their health, but this might create uneasiness or insecurity about job loss in fields that produce dangerous substances. Since the choice will be highly publicized by the media, the insecurity might be elevated into a sense of distrust or resentment towards the
The PSAPCA has achieved some level of success in getting Asarco to agree to installing equipment and instituting practices aimed at lowering pollution. Notably, Asarco agreed to install a secondary converted hood by 1984.
There are several objectives that must be kept in mind when making a decision regarding the EPA regulation of arsenic. First, the EPA must restore confidence in it’s ability to successfully regulate harmful substances while trying to avoid the image of a “job destroyer”. This will prevent feelings of insecurity nationwide. Secondly, the EPA must act in a way that is beneficial for the greatest number of individuals over time. This second goal therefore must take into account the effects that this choice will have on the townspeople of Tacoma, Ruston, and Vashon …show more content…
The outcome of this choice would be that the plant would close, leading to massive unemployment for the people of Ruston. This would be financially devastating and cause widespread enrollment in unemployment benefits. Additionally, job loss could result in morale loss and even have more dangerous psychological effects. However, the benefits of this choice would include setting a precedent for strict regulation of dangerous substances in the future. This would also be favored by the Tacoma and Vashon townspeople as well as the PSAPCA. In terms of security tradeoffs, individuals would feel much more secure about the ability of the EPA to protect their health, but this might create uneasiness or insecurity about job loss in fields that produce dangerous substances. Since the choice will be highly publicized by the media, the insecurity might be elevated into a sense of distrust or resentment towards the