An Assessment of Factors Contributing to Environmental Racism: A Case Study of the East Austin Tank Farm

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to assess the factors that contribute to environmental racism using the East Austin tank farm as a case study. The East Austin tank farm had been at the East Austin location since 1948 and had grown to occupy 52 acres by the time it closed its operations in 1992. In December of 1991, a resident of the area saw a notice in the local newspaper in which one of the oil companies was seeking a permit to expand its facilities. This was the beginning of what turned out to be a thirteen month battle with the oil companies to move the tank farm. Unbeknownst to the surrounding community at the time, contamination of the groundwater, the soil, and the air had already occurred. The regulatory agencies responsible for protecting the community had failed them and had allowed the contamination to continue.