Environmental Justice in Rural Context: Land-Application of Biosolids in Central Virginia

Abstract

Abstract This article focuses on the independent role played by “rural-ness” in determining a community's vulnerability to environmental hazards. It examines the political fight over land application of biosolids (treated sewage sludge) as an agricultural soil amendment in Central Virginia. This case study casts the metropolitan versus rural conflict into sharp relief and illustrates how otherwise privileged middle-class Americans may be obligated to endure disproportionate environmental hazards simply because they live in a rural area. This article gives a broad overview of the biosolids issue, reviewing benefits and risks posed by land application, state and federal regulations that promote the practice, and the unsuccessful attempts at self-determination by three rural Virginia counties resisting sludge use. I conclude that rural whites must cooperate with traditional environmental justice communities to push back against the powerful coalition of municipalities and corporate interests which profit fro...