Politics and science
- Archived: Mon, 16 Jul 2001 11:44:00 -0400 (EDT)
- Date: Mon, 16 Jul 2001 11:19:43 -0400 (EDT)
- From: Karsten A. Rist <ristck@aol.com>
- Subject: Politics and science
- X-topic: Collaboration
I fully agree with Charlie Atherton that politics play a significant and often negative role in decision processes which should be governed by science and technology.
I have been involved in the debate about cleaning up the "Munisport" site in Dade County (Florida)for twenty years. The site gained notoriety in 1981 when the EPA first used its veto power over Corps decisions under section 404C of the Clean Water Act to stop a fill permit. It became a superfund site in 1983. Political pressure caused the site to be delisted and in a torturous process the scientific findings about the nature of the site were dramatically changed. The site has yet to be cleaned up. The Munisport Dump Coalition, a group of NGOs and interested citizens, was able to hire competent scientists funded by an EPA grant. They could not overcome the political pressure surrounding the problem site.
In a dramatic contrast the clean-up of Homestead Airforce Base, also in Dade County, conducted by the Air Force, has proceeded efficiently and with little controversy.
Karsten A. Rist
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