Toxic Legacy: The Story Behind the Cherokee Waste Incinerator
The small town of Cherokee, Iowa, has been plagued by a toxic legacy that has spanned decades. At the center of this legacy is the Cherokee Waste Incinerator, a facility that has been burning hazardous waste since the 1970s. The incinerator’s history is marked by controversy, regulatory failures, and environmental disasters, leaving a trail of pollution and health problems in its wake.
A History of Pollution
The Cherokee Waste Incinerator was built in 1971 by the American Can Company, with the intention of burning industrial waste and generating energy for the local community. However, from the start, the facility was plagued by problems. The incinerator was designed to burn a variety of hazardous materials, including PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), dioxins, and furans, which are known to be carcinogenic and highly toxic.
In the 1980s, the incinerator began to attract attention from environmental regulators, who were concerned about the facility’s emissions and the potential impact on local air and water quality. Despite these concerns, the incinerator continued to operate, releasing thousands of pounds of toxic pollutants into the air and water.
Regulatory Failures
The Cherokee Waste Incinerator has a long history of regulatory failures. In the 1990s, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began to investigate the facility, citing concerns about its emissions and compliance with federal regulations. However, despite numerous fines and penalties, the incinerator continued to operate, often with little to no oversight.
In 2005, the EPA levied a $1.2 million fine against the incinerator’s owners for violating the Clean Air Act and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. However, the fine did little to change the facility’s operations, and the incinerator continued to release toxic pollutants into the environment.
Health Impacts
The Cherokee Waste Incinerator has had a devastating impact on the health of local residents. Exposure to the incinerator’s emissions has been linked to a range of health problems, including cancer, respiratory disease, and neurological damage. In 2010, a study by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences found that residents living near the incinerator were at a higher risk of developing certain types of cancer, including lung, liver, and kidney cancer.
Local residents have also reported a range of health problems, including respiratory issues, skin rashes, and neurological symptoms. Many have complained of a foul odor emanating from the incinerator, which has been described as a mixture of garbage, chemicals, and burning plastic.
Community Response
In response to the incinerator’s toxic legacy, local residents have formed a grassroots movement to shut down the facility. The Cherokee Community for Environmental Justice, a local advocacy group, has been working to raise awareness about the incinerator’s impact and to push for regulatory action.
In 2018, the group filed a lawsuit against the incinerator’s owners, citing violations of the Clean Air Act and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. The lawsuit seeks to shut down the facility and require the owners to clean up the site and compensate local residents for damages.
www.hiclover.com
The Cherokee Waste Incinerator is a stark reminder of the dangers of toxic pollution and the importance of effective regulation. The facility’s history is marked by controversy, regulatory failures, and environmental disasters, leaving a trail of pollution and health problems in its wake.
As the community continues to fight for justice and closure, it is clear that the incinerator’s toxic legacy will be felt for generations to come. The story of the Cherokee Waste Incinerator serves as a warning about the dangers of unchecked industrial pollution and the importance of protecting our air, water, and soil.
Recommendations
To address the toxic legacy of the Cherokee Waste Incinerator, we recommend the following:
- Immediate shutdown: The incinerator should be shut down immediately to prevent further pollution and harm to local residents.
- Cleanup and remediation: The site should be cleaned up and remediated to remove any remaining toxic pollutants.
- Compensation for damages: Local residents should be compensated for damages and medical expenses related to exposure to the incinerator’s emissions.
- Strengthened regulations: Regulations should be strengthened to prevent similar facilities from operating in the future.
- Community engagement: Local residents should be engaged in the decision-making process to ensue that their concerns are heard and addressed.
By taking these steps, we can begin to address the toxic legacy of the Cherokee Waste Incinerator and work towards a cleaner, healthier future for the community.
Comments are closed