Understanding “Low Concern ” Near the Hazardous Waste Treatment

ABSTRACT: This paper examines why the level of concern about technological hazard risk is low near a hazardous waste treatment facility. The work builds on facility siting and risk perception literatures. The paper describes the findings from a telephone survey conducted in Swan Hills Alberta (n=173). The survey itself was designed from the analysis of almost 38 in-depth interviews in the same community. Swan Hills shows a relatively high percentage of residents who are relatively unconcerned about the facility (69%). Four potential explanations of low concern are tested: sound management, economic and other benefits, sound facility siting, and insider reactions to outsiders. The insider/outsider dichotomy and benefits to community well-being prove to be the only statistically significant predictors of general facility concern. Implications for facility siting, risk communication and media reporting are discussed. 1