Grounding hazardous waste cleanups: a promising remedy?

The linking of cleanups at contaminated sites in the US to the sites’ expected land uses may offer a more rational and cheaper cleanup process, economic development in the local communities that host such sites, and more community control of cleanups. Interviews with national-level stakeholders, information from a large database of contaminated sites, and a detailed case study suggest these presumed benefits are problematic. Misunderstandings about the current role of land use in cleanup, the likelihood of economic development at contaminated sites, the viability of institutional controls, the willingness of communities to accept partial cleanups, and public involvement warrant more attention.