Discussion
In the debate of birth defects in relation to proximity to the landfill in Kettleman City, CA. U.S senators, Fienstein and Boxer called for a halt on the plans to expand the landfill until all the results are in on the investigations of birth defects in the area. The residents of this area demanded further study of the “ impacts of decades-long exposure to pollutants, including smog and particulates, pesticides used in fields, arsenic in the water and the hazardous wastes processed at the landfill” ( LA times article). In issues such as these GIS techniques can help to investigate.
In this week's lab we ran Suitability Analysis for potential sites for new landfills in a fictional country. A suitability analysis looks to identifying areas and locations for given land use possibilities. This analysis uses the characteristics of land, water, and soils of the country to determine the proper location for this landfill. It also considers factors such as wilderness areas,and heavily populated areas that would be considered in a real world situation.
For the issue in Kettleman City, it would be in the county's best interest to conduct a suitability analysis that interpreted the suitability of the area that the landfill would be expanded to. However, there are some underlying issues that would need attention before conducting a suitability survey of the expanded landfill. First, there is the debate that the original landfill is already causing health issues. Some argue that safety violations within the facility have occurred and therefore the facility is not fit to expand when it cannot even regulate it' s now smaller facility. The residents of the area are concerned that the birth defects that have occurred over a 22 year period are related to the proximity and exposure to the landfill and its pollutants. Officials concluded that the birth defects were not higher then expected in relation other communities. For this debate it would be good to map out birth defects across the country and their relationship to power plants, and landfills.
However, one problem with GIS and map making is that interpretation is often left up to the viewer. If you are mother who just lost their child to birth defects and then find out that a landfill is nearby it is easy to jump to conclusions and claim the landfill is the culprit. Also, GIS may show trends that are not really there and vice versus, some of these techniques are interpretive and depending on the map maker may vary. One, final problem with GIS is that it does not interpret which factors matter more, is it better to put a landfill on a slightly elevated site with non-permeable soil or is it better to put the site on flat land when the soil is more permeable? These are questions that the interpreters of the maps must answer, and unlike a simple math equation the answers are not always clear. Such as the situation with Kettleman City, birth defects are nothing to take lightly, and the proposed expansion of the landfill should be halted until all possible investigations are held. The GIS suitability analysis would be a step in the right direction in making sure that all future landfills, power plants and things of that nature are located the best possible places with the right soil, away from water tables, land elevation, slope of elevation, etc...
Finally, I think that this article on Kettleman City is a bit unreasonable. The article, as well as the residents jump to the conclusion that the landfill is the cause of bad drinking water and also cause of birth defects. It is hard to draw these conclusions without scientific proof. However, since this issue mustn't be taken lightly it would be wise to halt the expansion of the landfill until all appropriate analysis are done including a GIS suitability analysis
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