_
'
But that solution is not an easy one either. Waste controls cost money, and
increased production costs reduce prots. From the industrialist’s point
view, the people downstream are an economic threat if they insist on the
cleanup. And if, under the pressure
to control waste, the owners decide to
close the plant, jobs are at stake and the problem becomes that much more
complicated. Moreover, if a city or state sets stringent environmental laws to
.
enforce control of industrial wastes, the aiÏected industries can decide to
m0ve to another location in the United States, or even abroad, where the requirements are not so strict. On the other hand, if federal industrial waste
standards are developed, some people will object to an extension of govern—
ment controls over private enterprise.
This kind of comparison begins to givens a feeling for some oi the reasons
why water pollution, while at times less of an immediate threat to health than
it once was, has become a mere diîcult problem to solve. The main reason is
that water pollution, like nearly every other environmental issue, is deeply
embedded in the fabric of economic, social, and political relations. There is
an environmental crisis because we have not yet learned how, Within these
'
relationships, to take the steps needed to eliminaté new and unprecedented
assaults on our water resource.
.
_
_
Barry Comm6nèr
_
_
_
_
…
……
_
'
But that solution is not an easy one either. Waste controls cost money, and
increased production costs reduce prots. From the industrialist’s point
view, the people downstream are an economic threat if they insist on the
cleanup. And if, under the pressure
to control waste, the owners decide to
close the plant, jobs are at stake and the problem becomes that much more
complicated. Moreover, if a city or state sets stringent environmental laws to
.
enforce control of industrial wastes, the aiÏected industries can decide to
m0ve to another location in the United States, or even abroad, where the requirements are not so strict. On the other hand, if federal industrial waste
standards are developed, some people will object to an extension of govern—
ment controls over private enterprise.
This kind of comparison begins to givens a feeling for some oi the reasons
why water pollution, while at times less of an immediate threat to health than
it once was, has become a mere diîcult problem to solve. The main reason is
that water pollution, like nearly every other environmental issue, is deeply
embedded in the fabric of economic, social, and political relations. There is
an environmental crisis because we have not yet learned how, Within these
'
relationships, to take the steps needed to eliminaté new and unprecedented
assaults on our water resource.
.
_
_
Barry Comm6nèr
_
_
_
_
…
……
_