Covanta
This section dives deeper into the Covanta trash incinerator which is argued to be most pressing environmental injustice that has plagued Chester since 1992. The waste plant is the largest of its kind in the country and burns close to 3000 pounds of trash in a single day from 14 different states. The impact on local Chesteries has been seen by long time residents as the air quality in the city continues to deteriorate overtime. Covanta’s trash incinerator proves to be an example of environmental racism being placed within a disadvantaged and predominantly black community affecting the health of thousands without collective voice to share their concerns. The next section will dive deeper into how local residents have worked together to combat the waste plant to turn the tide in favor of justice.
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"'We want to live. They want to burn trash': Chester residents raise environmental racism concerns over incinerator with Covanta." by Kenny Cooper
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Cooper's article for WHYY (NPR) summarizes and provides an overview of Chester's Resident's concerns surrounding the incinerator and its removal movement. It also addresses environmental justice concerns, provides a history of the plant and the communities resistance. This articles is any easy and accessible starting point for learning about the Covanta Incinerator.
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"Contract of Waste Disposal Between New York City & Covanta"
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This document is the 726-page contract between Covanta and New York City. It details everything from Calculation of Barge Capital Cost Component to Renewal or Replacement Linehaul Carrier Subcontracts. However, a wealth of information may be relevant to combating the placement of the incinerator in Chester. Specific attention should be paid to Section 7.19 which details “relief from certain performance guarantees for safety considerations” and Article VIII which details “Waste Disposal and Transport.”
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"Public pressure mounts against Chester incinerator as environmental racism claims pile up" by Kenny Cooper
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This article details the mounting pressure against Covanta regarding pollution and environmental racism. It details a hearing in September of 2021 with residents of Chester and other residents having the chance to air their grievances with the Covanta plant with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection as Covanta applied for the renewal of their Title V permit. (A Title V operating permit is required under the Federal Clean Air Act for any large source of air pollution. It is supposed to cover regulatory requirements for air emissions at a facility that surpasses emission thresholds.)
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CRCQL & Environmental Activism
This section discusses the grassroots organization at the frontlines in fighting for environmental justice within the Chester community: Chester Residents Concerned for Quality Living (CRCQL). The group headed by Zulene Mayfield have been active since the inception of the Covanta trash incinerator and have fought tirelessly to ensure the termination of the facility. The group continues to meet and place themselves in prominent positions within the sphere of influence involving the facility along with gaining support in their efforts to inform their course of action to dismantle the incinerator.
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"Ban the Burn festival raises awareness of environmental racism from Chester, Pa. incinerator" by Anna O'Neill-Dietel
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O'Neill-Dietral, writing for The Daily Pennsylvanian, highlights the "Ban the Burn" festival organized by C4 and CRCQL. This festival in Ban the Burn served as a fundraiser for Community Action Works, an organization that helps communities combat pollution. CRCQL and its C4 branches intend to work with Community Action Works to launch a legal campaign against the incinerator in Chester.
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"Chester Residents Concerned for Quality Living: Fighting for the rights and lives of Chester residents"
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Chester Residents Concerned for Quality Living (CRCQL) is a grassroots organization headed by Zulene Mayfield. The group has been at the forefront of enacting environmental justice within the community since 1992, as a result of numerous waste facilities being sited in the city of Chester, PA. Through community organizing—in the form of protests, rallies, public hearings, legal action, and forming alliances with other environmental justice groups—CRCQL has successfully shut down numerous environmentally hazardous facilities and has prevented the siting of additional facilities in Chester. CRCQL is currently tackling the goal of shutting down the Covanta trash incinerator in Chester, while also taking steps to battle environmental justice as a whole. The CRCQL website provides viewers with updates relating to environmental justice in Chester, as well as resources to get involved and donate.
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"Public pressure mounts against Chester incinerator as environmental racism claims pile up" by Kenny Cooper
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Cooper’s article focuses on the environmental impact of Covanta on the health of Chester citizens. Chester residents recognize the incinerator as a “symbol of environmental racism” and are trying to get their voices heard--as they oppose the presence of the environmental hazard in their community—byway of trying to ensure that Covanta’s contract does not get renewed. Supporters of the environmental justice movement in Chester are adamant that Covanta isn't being properly regulated in terms of its emissions, is rooted in racism, and is the cause of some health issues such as asthma in Chester residents.
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"For 30 years, she has fought a waste-to-energy plant in Chester City: ‘We don't have a choice’' by Frank Kummer
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Kummers’ article details the beginning of the CRCQL movement, highlighting Chesterite activist Zulene Mayfield, who spearheaded the organization to help bring an end to the Covanta waste facility sited in the Chester city community. Mayfield still dedicates her time today to shutting down the Covanta facility, as well as leads CRCQL members in preventing the siting of environmental hazards in Chester. In addition to Mayfield, Mike Ewall of the Energy Justice Network works on the environmental justice movement in Chester. Residents of Chester complain about the soot, dust, and odor from the facility, as well as the chemicals in the air, but representatives of Covanta refuse to take responsibility for these disturbances in the Chester community. This article summarizes the work CRCQL does and why they do such work.
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"Chester Residents Want a Better Quality of Life for the Future" by J.F. Pirro
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Pirro's article fully encompasses the CRCQL movement highlighting key members such as Zulene Mayfield, Mike Ewall and Christopher Mele in the fight for environmental justice. Figures such as Mayfield have firsthand experienced the pollution created by the Covanta incinerator, while data supports the high health complication rate and low life expectancy caused by the incinerator. While Chester environmental activists are aware of the struggles of dealing with waste disposal, they emphasize that they merely want their fair share, rather than carrying the burden for New York City, Philadelphia, and parts of New Jersey. Consequently, DelCo is looking to instate a health department, which would provide some benefits to Chester residents. This article also details some of the complexities within the community such as the disagreement on development plans that focus on solely waterfront development.
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Education & Social Engagement
This section has resources for those interested in learning more about current groups on social media along with articles written to educate on the current environmental state of the Chester area. Sources that define key terms and additional documents are included to support the readings in previous sections to allow for a certain level of understanding and contextualization surrounding the history Covanta & Chester.
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"Chester EJ" Instagram Page
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@Chester_EJ is an Instagram page with updates regarding CRCQL, as well as various other environmental justice topics. On this page, viewers are provided with information on how to reach out to and work alongside Chester, as well as provided with information to educate them on the environmental crisis and the environmental justice movement.
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"Chester Environmental Justice" Facebook Page
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Facebook page with updates regarding CRCQL along with various other environmental justice topics. Highlights various events anyone can become involved with, and occurrences regarding environmental justice within Chester.
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"Chester Digital"
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A website with articles detailing varying facets of Chester, including the community, crime, economy, education, environment, and housing. The website is designed to inform people about contemporary topics in Chester, and what may lie ahead. It also highlights other resources that can be used to gain more information about Chester.
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"Chester activists denounce a new Philadelphia Union-Subaru partnership as environmental injustice" by Kenny Cooper
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An article detailing the partnership between Subaru Park, home of the Philadelphia Union, and the local Covanta Incinerator. Subara Park become "zero landfill", burning all its non-recyclable trash at the incinerator. Locals, including CRCQL (Chester Residents Concerned for Quality Living) actively opposed this, as the incinerator actively pollutes the air around Chester. CRCQL was attempting to meet with Subaru representatives in order to see whether there is any alternative. This article offers some perspective into one CRCQL's current goals.
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"Environmental Justice and Pennsylvania's Environmental Rights Amendment: Applying the Duty of Impartiality to Discriminatory Siting" by Jacob Elkin
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This source starts by evaluating the environmental justice movement. The environmental justice movement began by noting that polluting industries were concentrated in low income communities of color. These communities have fought back against the placement of these polluting industries using the Equal Protection Clause. However, courts have shut down many of these cases by requiring a plaintiff to prove that the government acted with discriminatory intent. This source goes through the PA’s Environmental Rights Amendment, which provides an avenue for disparate impact environmental justice legal action at the state level. Part II of this source covers the background information on patterns of environmental injustice in Pennsylvania. Part III of this source covers the effect of Robinson Township on the law under the Environmental Rights Amendment. Part IV argues that the state has a significant responsibility to cease environmental burdens on low income communities and a procedural obligation to consider cumulative impact on residents. Part V looks at whether or not other state constitutions provide similar frameworks.
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"Chester County officials share ideas for sustainable living at Thirsty for Justice panel discussion at West Chester University" by Bill Rettew
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Four panelist come together to discuss future environmental plans for Chester and deliberate on which route they should take. Specifically, it was noted that the flooding in Downingtown, Pocopson, and Avondale areas needs to be addressed and mitigated. It was also suggested that the process for applying for Federal Emergency Management Agency aid needs to be simplified. The panel also discussed the dangers associated with climate change. The panelists addressed that while climate change is a big issue, we can all do small things to combat it such as planting native trees, reducing purchasing, shifting to a more plant based diet, and planting pollinator gardens. There is the potential that better regulated nuclear power and less fracking could also help the climate.
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"Chester Matters Blog" by Stefan Roots
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Chester Matters is a blog written by Chester Councilman Stephen Roots. Roots frequently updates the blog with articles that give his opinions on the latest news in Chester. Roots' articles focus on current environmental and political injustices in Chester. Check out this blog for articles on topics ranging from the municipal waste plan in Chester to updates on Chester's boys basketball team.
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"Executive Order on Protecting Public Health and the Environment and Restoring Science to Tackle the Climate Crisis"
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This source gives information on an executive order by President Biden on protecting public health, protecting the environment, and managing the climate crisis. Biden states that it is the policy of his administration to listen to the science, improve public health, and limit exposure of people to dangerous chemicals and other pollutants. Biden explicitly states that he will hold polluters accountable, including those whose pollution disproportionately affects low-income communities of color. Biden calls for the head of agencies to review all existing regulations, orders, guidance documents, and policies that are inconsistent with these policies.
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"PA Environmental Justice Areas" by Department of Environmental Protection
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This source goes over how the Department of Environmental Protection identifies environmental justice areas. Environmental justice areas are defined as areas where 20 percent or more of individuals live at or below the poverty line and/or 30 percent or more of the population identifies as a non-white minority. This source provides maps that you can use to determine if the area that you live is an environmental justice area. The Department of Environmental Protection gives environmental Justice areas tools to allow for analysis of demographic and environmental indicators of environmental justice.
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"Environmental Justice: Learn About Environmental Justice" by United States Environmental Protection Agency
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Government page by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) highlighting environmental justice, the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people. Talks about the goals of the EPA regarding environmental justice, as well as Executive Order 12898, which promotes equality regarding environmental justice. The page discusses the breadth of the EPA's activities, and the factors they consider regarding environmental justice.
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