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Watershed Council as Polymorph: The Changing Nature of Expertise and Expert-Public Communication in Deliberations about Superfund Remediation
Citation:
Druschke, C. Watershed Council as Polymorph: The Changing Nature of Expertise and Expert-Public Communication in Deliberations about Superfund Remediation. National Communication Association Annual Convention, Chicago, IL, November 20 - 23, 2014.
Impact/Purpose:
This research investigates the complicated role that watershed councils play in restoration and remediation efforts. Often, they are asked to both speak for members of the community - representing their concerns - and speak to members of the community - offering technical expertise. This study should help us to better understand the difficult work of watershed councils, and to think more critically about the expectations for and consequences of public engagement with restoration.
Description:
This paper investigates the navigation of expert and public credibility in the remediation of a New England Superfund site. In 1999, the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) named Rhode Island’s Centredale Manor an official Superfund site, prompting remediation efforts. Fifteen years later, the USEPA is still working with a suite of local, state, and federal organizations to remediate the site, and to involve and educate the public in and about its remediation. Central to contentious discussions surrounding the site is the local watershed council, which navigates multiple roles with USEPA and public audiences. In their interactions with community members, the watershed council serves as both a trusted expert – translating scientific documents; facilitating community meetings; and consulting with state representatives – and a respected constituent. Meanwhile, with USEPA, the council serves as a public stakeholder – making recommendations on behalf of the wider community that are entered into the record of decision – and respected member of the technical advisory committee. The council serves as the public voice for affected community members surrounding Centredale Manor, while serving as the voice of technical expertise to those same individuals. Given ongoing academic interest in public understanding of science, scientific expertise, and environmental justice, Centredale Manor emerges as a site ripe for exploration. The watershed council’s navigation of their polymorphic role there raises interesting questions: What constitutes community involvement at Centredale Manor and other Superfund sites? What normative assumptions about the nature of community, local ecological knowledge, scientific expertise, and credibility does Superfund community involvement rely upon?