Toxic Territories: Econometric Models of Green Crime Offenses Throughout the U.S.

Since its emergence approximately two decades ago, Green Criminology has suffered from a neglect of quantitative methods (Lynch 2017). The following analysis seeks to contribute to the bridging of this research gap by... [ view full abstract ]

Since its emergence approximately two decades ago, Green Criminology has suffered from a neglect of quantitative methods (Lynch 2017). The following analysis seeks to contribute to the bridging of this research gap by establishing a series of independent predictors associated with green criminal violations. Spatial regression and econometric modeling is used to consider a variety of social factors affecting exposures to environmental hazards (LeSage and Pace 2009). The inquiry utilizes the EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO) data for approximately 800,000 facilities under the national hazardous waste laws (CWA, CAA, RCRA). This statistical analysis is coupled with geo-visualization techniques to explore industrial concentrations throughout rural communities. Findings emphasize the role of race, class, and LULU predictors in relation to zoning practices throughout counties boarding urban areas.