Spatial Distribution of Toxic Sites in Louisiana, USA: The GIS Perspectives — Oak Academic Publishing
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Spatial Distribution of Toxic Sites in Louisiana, USA: The GIS Perspectives
Department of Urban Forestry and Natural Resources, Southern University and A & M College, Fisher Hall, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
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Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Jackson State University, Capitol Center, Jackson, Mississippi, USA
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Department of Urban Forestry and Natural Resources, Southern University and A & M College, Fisher Hall, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
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Department of Civil Engineering, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS, USA
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USDA-ARS Tropical Agriculture Research Station, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, USA
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Department of Urban Forestry and Natural Resources, Southern University and A & M College, Fisher Hall, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
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Department of Urban Forestry and Natural Resources, Southern University and A & M College, Fisher Hall, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
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Department of Public Policy, Southern University and A & M College, Nelson Mandela College of Government and Social Sciences, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
,
Department of Urban Forestry and Natural Resources, Southern University and A & M College, Fisher Hall, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
,
Department of Urban Forestry and Natural Resources, Southern University and A & M College, Fisher Hall, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
,
Department of Urban Forestry and Natural Resources, Southern University and A & M College, Fisher Hall, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
1 Department of Urban Forestry and Natural Resources, Southern University and A & M College, Fisher Hall, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
2 Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Jackson State University, Capitol Center, Jackson, Mississippi, USA
3 Department of Urban Forestry and Natural Resources, Southern University and A & M College, Fisher Hall, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
4 Department of Civil Engineering, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS, USA
5 USDA-ARS Tropical Agriculture Research Station, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, USA
6 Department of Urban Forestry and Natural Resources, Southern University and A & M College, Fisher Hall, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
7 Department of Urban Forestry and Natural Resources, Southern University and A & M College, Fisher Hall, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
8 Department of Public Policy, Southern University and A & M College, Nelson Mandela College of Government and Social Sciences, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
9 Department of Urban Forestry and Natural Resources, Southern University and A & M College, Fisher Hall, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
10 Department of Urban Forestry and Natural Resources, Southern University and A & M College, Fisher Hall, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
11 Department of Urban Forestry and Natural Resources, Southern University and A & M College, Fisher Hall, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
This study uses geographic Information System (GIS) techniques to spatially geocode the affected toxic site areas in Louisiana and use the results to help policy-makers plan for removal. Data for this study was acquired from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) website including names and locations of National Priorities List (NPL). Also, publicly available EPA database that contains information on toxic chemical releases and other waste management activities reported annually by regulated industry groups and federal facilities was acquired. Data obtained from EPA website was converted to geographic co-ordinates (latitude and longitude). Results showed geocoded toxic wastes maps in Louisiana. Results also revealed that most of the toxic sites were clustered around major waterways in both southern and northern Louisiana. Policy recommendations include strict enforcement of the State laws that deal with fracking and flaring, use of emission inventories and air quality reports to assist policy makers in developing cost-effective emission control strategies that are necessary for tracking the progress of policies towards gas emissions reduction and finally, the need to increase funding for the clean-up of the chemical waste.
KeywordsGISToxic WasteSuperfundLouisiana
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