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Overview

Year:: 2022
Contributor:: Eugena Choi (creator); Scott Frickel (advisor); Leadership Alliance-Summer Research Early Identification Program (SR-EIP) (research program)
Genre:: posters
Subject:: Environmental health; Rhode Island; History; Sociology; Hazardous wastes--Auditing; Environmental justice; Water--Pollution; Rhode Island--Saylesville; Sayles Finishing Plants
Extent:: 1 poster
DOI: https://doi.org/10.26300/xfwh-f424

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Description

Abstract:: This pilot research project examines the political ecology of manufacturing waste in Rhode Island during the mid-1800s to mid-1900s. Many of the preexisting manufacturing and consequently their waste sites in Rhode Island have since been redeveloped. However, these waste sites are not easily disposable and the remaining waste, composed of hazardous by-products such as coal tars, ammonia, and coke, poses dangerous health and environmental risks. This waste also tends to travel through both natural and intentional processes. Therefore, the likelihood that this waste is eliminated from these former industrial sites is low and the sites go unnoticed for decades. During this time period, there were no federal regulations governing waste practices and companies were unrestricted in their disposal methods. This project aims to uncover, document, and characterize the nature of waste practices for one company within a specific industry known as Sayles Bleachery during the mid-1800s to mid-1900s. Using historical data from archives, databases, and primary sources from this time period we recorded and analyzed material, most notably company documents and correspondences. By compiling this data, we not only demonstrate the political ecology of manufacturing waste during this time period, but also the complexities of waste disposal and regulatory science associated with Sayles Bleachery. This project may provide further insight into the spatial distribution of environmental justice communities in Rhode Island and others across the United States as well.

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Access Conditions

Use and Reproduction: All rights reserved
Rights: In Copyright
Restrictions on Use: All Rights Reserved

Citation

Eugena Choi, "An Exploration of the Political Ecology of Manufacturing Waste in Rhode Island (1850-1950)" (2022). The Leadership Alliance Digital Library, Summer Research Symposium. Brown Digital Repository. Brown University Library. https://doi.org/10.26300/xfwh-f424

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The Leadership Alliance Digital Library

A collection of research presentations and posters created by students participating in the Leadership Alliance's Summer Research - Early Identification Program.
When using this resource, please cite the digital object identifier (DOI) for the specific resource as well as the …

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Summer Research Symposium

Each year, Brown University showcases the research of its undergraduates at the Summer Research Symposium. More than half of the student-researchers are UTRA recipients, while others receive funding from a variety of Brown-administered and national programs and fellowships and go …
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An Exploration of the Political Ecology of Manufacturing Waste in Rhode Island (1850-1950)