Natural Hazards as the Cause of Toxic Spills in the United States, with some Notes on Liability

Abstract

Natural disasters that create technological emergencies by causing the release of dangerous materials such as oil, chemicals, or radiological/infectious agents are called “na-tech” events (Showalter and Myers 1992). Although there has yet to be a catastrophic na-tech event in the United States, low impact events are fairly common. An example of this occurred a few weeks ago when, during flooding in Texas, an oil pipeline ruptured by floodwaters exploded. The potential for a serious na-tech event is rising, however, bacause the US, like many industrialized countries, is greatly dependent on the production and use of chemicals. For example, industry manufactures millions of gallons of gasoline and millions of pounds of herbicides every day. Additionally, in 1985, approximately 200,000 facilities in the US generated 275 million metric tons of hazardous waste. Many of these facilities, as well as those that store, transport, and/or use such toxic materials, are vulnerable to the different types of natural hazards that exist in a country as large as the US.