Political and Monetary Influences and the Siting of Noxious Facilities

Abstract

<p>This paper examines the way political and monetary influences effect the siting process for noxious facilities. Understanding their effects is an important first step to controlling them so that social and environmental equity is maintained.</p> <p>How is it that certain agents are able to have more political influence than others. The role of different types of political influence, the differences between governmental and non-governmental agents, the differences between Primary and Secondary agents and the differences between the potential to create influence and inherent political influence will all be examined. The way these elements combine to create political influence is important to understand how certain agents are able to effect the siting of noxious facilities.</p> <p>The construction of an hierarchy of power will be attempted, taking into consideration the above factors as well as some internal factors such as the credibility, reputation, commitment and strategies used, of the individual agents. Monetary influences are easily defined, and will also be taken into consideration.</p> <p>These elements of political and monetary influences will be examined in the context of a siting process which occurred in Hal ton Region over a waste disposal site. Each agent involved in the siting decision will be examined, using the above elements to determine if the hierarchy is correct and, if the agent with the most political and monetary influences is in fact, the agent to effect the siting of that noxious facility.</p>