ENVIRONMENTAL RACISM IN FEDERAL AGENCY HANDLING OF TOXIC WASTE SITES NEAR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR: HOW ARE JOURNALISTS COVERING ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES?
CASE STUDY: NORTHEAST CARBONDALE, ILLINOIS
Featured Article
Soil pollution
Black community wants soil retested for contamination and SIUC soil expert agrees
Brian Klubek, a former microbiology professor at Southern Illinois University Carbondale in the Plant, Soil and Agriculture Systems department, says the residents are right.
The soil samples did not go deeply enough to detect contamination.
Accounts of what has happened
This timeline records the key events, people involved, and government agencies who participated in the finding of contamination at the former Koppers wood-treating plant located in Carbondale, Il.
The public health and safety agencies, former and current owners of the plant, and residents living near the contaminated land today contributed these facts for this timeline to help tell their stories.
The information used in this timeline was found through online databases, records, and documents that relate to Koppers Inc., federal agencies, and historical context of Southern Il.
Featured Article
Human Impact
RELATIVES THINK A CANCER CLUSTER IN THEIR FAMILY IS CAUSED BY PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO KOPPERS POLLUTION
“She grew up so close to the plant that her birth certificate recorded her birthplace as the Tie Addition plant, which is Koppers’ original name.”
— Magdalene Tisdale-Davis, one of six daughters born to Mr. Tisdale and his wife Ethel
RESIDENTS CALL STATE HEALTH STUDY A BLATANT LIE
Residents next door to the former Koppers wood-treating plant have complained about the environment allegedly contaminated with cancer-causing chemicals and exposing them for decades.
The plant released many chemicals, including creosote, as the facility operated near the primarily African American community located on the northeast side of Carbondale, Illinois.
The community thinks the contamination caused by the mishandling of creosote at the plant since it was an operation in 1991 exposed them, and their concerns fell on deaf ears from the city and other government agencies.
Darryl Weber, a retired electrician who lost his mother, Nannie Tisdale, to breast cancer after living near the plant for many years.
Weber said the assessment completed by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) concluding that the environment posed no human risk.
“This is a blatant lie,” Weber said.
Environmental Journalism investigation
News coverage
Government deters journalists, environmental news compromised
The aura, the energy, and the vibes that the USEPA officials give off, especially those in charge of communicating with the public, feel like you are not welcomed. - Blakely
Amelia Blakely, The Southern Illinoisan
Blakely said other well-intentioned journalists, whether white or not, who have a naïve perception of the government and think they are supposed to help the American people are shattered. – Carbondale, IL
Dr. Leslie Duram, School of Earth Systems and Sustainability SIU
Environmental racism is closely linked because we deal with that interface between people and the environment, Duram said. “Whether it’s waste management or toxic spills… we’re finding that Black and brown communities are impacted more heavily,” Duram said. – Carbondale, IL
Sarah Bowman, The Indy Star
We definitely see a lot of those areas where there is the most concentrated pollution being northwest and southern Indiana, Gary, Hammond, and areas in Indianapolis where there has been industry driving what we call “super polluters”. – Indianapolis, Indiana
The Northeast side and
Environmental Racism
The black community of the northeast corner of town has a long history of fighting social injustice. Located in a section of the country too far south to experience covert racism like their northern counterparts. But, not considered the deep south where blatant racism exists.
Clarissa Cowley
The residents of this community live adjacent to the former Koppers wood-treating plant where many of their male relatives fought against unfair wage discrimination, racist management practices, and pollution of their bodies and homes.
Clarissa Cowley
Community coverage
People and pollution
and Marilyn Tipton). Photo by Southern Illinoisan.
Environment and Race: How are journalists covering environmental racism? 