Date of Conferral

2023

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Public Policy and Administration

Advisor

Hilda Shepeard

Abstract

There is no meaningful way for Georgia residents to participate in the environmental decision-making process before environmental permits are approved. As a result, hazardous waste facilities are disproportionately placed in African American communities, exposing them to poor air quality and a higher prevalence of heart and respiratory diseases than Whites. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore and better understand how African American residents living in Stonecrest, Georgia felt about the hazardous waste site being placed in their community without an opportunity to provide input into the Georgia Environmental Protection Division’s (GEPD) decision-making process before a decision was made to grant permits. The theoretical framework for this study was Bergman and Luckmann’s and Schneider and Ingram’s social construction theories. Purposive and snowball sampling were used to recruit eight African American homeowners residing in Stonecrest, Georgia between 2017 and 2020. Data were collected through semistructured interviews. A priori, in vivo, and axial coding were used; thematic analysis was manually conducted. The results indicated that the lack of timely notification and the lack of communication prevented African Americans from participating in the GEPD permitting process, contributing to feelings of being ignored and distrustful of the decision. Findings could promote positive social change through helping decision makers reexamine their process, policies, and practices to ensure communications and notices are all-inclusive.

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