Citizen Mobilization

Perhaps one of the most significant outcomes of ENSCO is citizen mobilization and action. “Ordinary” individuals became citizen scientists, political strategists, and networked with national groups to learn more about the risks of incineration, state and federal laws and regulations, EPA oversight, and facility siting. Citizens also circulated a petition to create a ballot initiative to amend the hazardous waste facility language in the Arizona Revised Statutes (amending ARS Title 49, 1990 & another petition RE enviro protection, 1990).  In protesting ENSCO, individuals often discovered other issues in their backyard that demanded their participation and oversight, such as wildlife and public lands protection.

With the exception of Dr. Mary Clifford’s case study in her text, Environmental Crime, ENSCO is largely ignored in the social science literature. Citizen mobilization against ENSCO, however, changed the face of Arizona environmental politics.

General

• Arizona Mountain News (October, 1990), “Toxic waste.“
• Capitol protest (1991).
• Citizen letter on the subject of an engineering feasibility study to explore important alternatives to incineration (June 11, 1990).
• Citizen letter to Gov. Rose Mofford calling for a special legislative session.
• Gov. Rose Mofford (1990) public hearing notice on ENSCO.
• Coyote flyer (1991)  | Coyote T-shirt (by Spider)  

• ENSCO bumper sticker (n.d.).
• Honky Tonk Sue comic from Phoenix New Times on ENSCO & coyotes
• Oops T-shirt  

• Pat Costner and the citizens of El Dorado, Arkansas with their own ENSCO incinerator supported us in a myriad of ways. (See letter to then Gov. Bill Clinton from Izone International on the problems and efficacy of incineration (.pdf).
• Project Earth (1990), ENSCO fiasco.
• Stop ENSCO flyer  | Another flyer, hearings

The Groups

American Hydrogen Association:  ENSCO & alternatives, review by Roy McAlister, P.E.

Citizens Clearinghouse for Hazardous Waste (CCHW), now Center for Health, Environment & Justice, and the book that started it all:  How to Deal With a Proposed Facility, 1986 (CHEJ has a newer edition published in 2009).

Concerned Citizens of Arizona: Flyer for the initiative petition | Initiative 26 I 90 Misrepresentations & paid petitioners | Stop incinerators now T-shirt designed by Spider:

    The T-shirt in action, May 7, 1990  | Wanted flyer | Will you be part of the solution? flyer.

Concerned Citizens of South Mountain:  CCSSM_newsletter, September 19, 1990.

Don’t Waste Arizona: Greenpeace-DWA factsheet | Kids who care flyer | No more toxics flyer.

Greenpeace: Articles @ google news archive | The toxic threat to Indian lands (Brad Angel, 1991) |  18 arrests @ Mobile hearing

National Toxics Campaign: The Vertac incinerator in Jacksonville, Arkansas  (also see Rachel’s Haz Waste News).

Sierra Club: Open letter to state legislators (1991).

Short Legislative History of SB 1033

Senate Bill 1033 (35th Legislature, first session, 1981) authorized “the acquisition of a hazardous waste disposal site.”  For information, view the following documents:

• Senate to inform the House that it has passed SENATE BILL 1033, February 12, 1980.
• Committee on Health Welfare, and Aging  discussing 1033 , January 27, 1981.
• Senate Engrossed Bill.
• Appropriations Committee & Roll Call sb1033, February 6, 1981.
• Floor Amendment Sheet, February 19, 1981 | Rep. Donna Carlson West’s objection to SB1033.

ENSCO Siting & Permitting Docs

For historical research purposes, I’ve scanned various Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (AZDEQ), Arizona Department of Health Services, ENSCO, and Environmental Protection Agency docs. Many of these docs are not available at Hayden Library, Arizona State University either in gov docs, special collections, and archives.

AZDEQ

• Arizona Hazardous Waste Statistics (1990).
• Capacity Assurance Plan (1989-2009).
• Chronology and Information Regarding the Siting and Development of Arizona’s Hazardous Waste Management Facility (June, 1990).
• Commercial Incineration Facilities and Incineration Demand by State (1989).
• Draft TSCA Permit (1990).
• Draft HWSA Permit (1990).
• Factsheet for ENSCO (n.d.).
• Public Notice of Extension for the Public Comment Period for the Arizona Hazardous Waste Management Facility, (June, 1990).
• Statement of Basis: Listing of Proposed Conditions for the Draft Hazardous Waste Permit.
  Arizona Hazardous Waste Management Facility (n.d.).

Department of  Health Services

• Freeman, AZ Hazardous Waste Study (1981).

ENSCO

• Horton and Dycus (1990), Final Draft, Revision 2, Probabalistic Health Risk Assessment of Public Exposure to PCB-Contaminants.
• Estrella Point Hazardous Waste Management Facility Factsheet (n.d.).
• Harding-Lawson (n.d.). Hydrogeological Investigations Conducted at the Proposed Arizona Hazardous Waste Management Facility.

Environmental Protection Agency

• Approval to Operate MWP-2000 Modular Incineration System (1988).
• Public Meeting Notices  (1990).