Social Injustice of The Fresh Kills Landfill
The most import and local injustice would be the Fresh Kills landfill. Staten Island is the host to the worlds largest trash heap the 3,000-acre Fresh Kills landfill. ... The main concern is the imminent closure of the landfill. Staten Islanders have feared the health effects of emissions from the landfill. ... The landfill is scheduled to close on Dec. ... Legislators expect landfill operations to cease much sooner than the legislated date. There are four variable mountains of garbage in the landfill. ... The landfill gas is a mixture of methane, carbon dioxide, smelly sulfur-bearing compounds and other products of the dumps digestive process, has contributed significantly to local air pollution. The Fresh Kills landfill poses great risks to Staten Islanders and surrounding communities. ... Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) field audit of gas emissions from the Fresh Kills Landfill on Staten Island shows that even though the landfill is in overall compliance with federal landfill criteria, it is a major source of hazardous air pollutants. ... The study is one of the most comprehensive evaluations of landfill gases ever undertaken in the United States. EPA is forwarding the report to the federal, state and New York City agencies to help further characterize potential health risks the landfill may pose. EPA found that Fresh Kills emits as much hazardous pollutants as certain major industrial facilities. The audit also suggests that there may be elevated levels of mercury in the Fresh Kills landfill gases. ... EPA received a total of $1,250,000 from Congress to determine if the Fresh Kills landfill is in compliance with federal regulations for landfills and to audit and test the air, soil, ground water and surface water at the landfill.