TABLE I.

Information Disparities Between the “Potentially Affected” Community and Government and Industry Stakeholders (See text for details)

Compared with Industry Lack of Technical Expertise Lack of representation on Advisory Committees to State of Virginia Department of Environmental Protection establishing “interim” action level. Lack of access to information/ability to conduct Toxicological Testing Lack of ability to conduct/ability to conduct epidemiologic studies of exposed workforce. Limited capacity to develop detailed submissions to regulatory processes. Lack of detailed day-to-day information about presence/levels of chemical in environmental media including water. Acccentuated by refusal of commercial laboratory to test samples submitted by Water Association. Substantial (many years) delay in disclosure that chemical was present in drinking water. Lack of authority or ability to influence level of discharges or control measures at the industrial facility. Scientific publication paradigm and processes that virtually ensures industry access to research results before community.

Compared with Governmental Regulators Lack of Technical Expertise Lack of representation on Advisory Committees to State of Virginia Department of Environmental Protection establishing “interim” action level. State of West Virginia regulates activities and discharges for industrial facility responsible for pollution: exposed residents live in Ohio Scientific publication paradigm and processes that virtually ensures govenmental access to research results before community Lack of authority to monitor or influence discharges from industrial facility