Revisiting Love Canal

A neighborhood facing contamination-related health problems brings dejavu to Love Canal and the creation of the Federal Superfund law, and asks how far we have come in addressing environmental justice.

1 minute read

August 19, 2003, 12:00 PM PDT

By Connie Chung


Hickory Woods, a neighborhood near Love Canal, which sparked the creation of the Superfund law 25 years ago, "changed the way the nation viewed toxic waste" and "proved that ordinary citizens could take on the system—and win"--is facing similar contamination-related health problems today. "With more than half the 1,500 sites on the Superfund National Priorities List already cleaned up, most Americans assume the toxic-waste crisis is behind them....But environmentalists caution that many of the remaining Superfund sites face delays and funding cuts; this year the EPA will finish only about 40 sites, compared with 87 in the late 1990s. A report due out shortly from the pro-environmental U.S. Public Interest Research Group blames the slowdown on underfunding by the Bush administration and complains that taxpayers, not polluters, are now shouldering most of the costs. (Horinko admits that taxpayers are picking up more of the tab but says the Superfund program has enough money to do its job. She pins the slowdown on today’s complicated cleanups.)"

Thanks to Connie Chung

Monday, August 4, 2003 in Newsweek

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

June 25, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Person wearing mask walking through temporary outdoor dining setup lined with bistro lights at dusk in New York City.

Restaurant Patios Were a Pandemic Win — Why Were They so Hard to Keep?

Social distancing requirements and changes in travel patterns prompted cities to pilot new uses for street and sidewalk space. Then it got complicated.

June 19, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Map of Western U.S. indicating public lands that would be for sale under a Senate plan in yellow and green.

Map: Where Senate Republicans Want to Sell Your Public Lands

For public land advocates, the Senate Republicans’ proposal to sell millions of acres of public land in the West is “the biggest fight of their careers.”

June 19, 2025 - Outdoor Life

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1 - Honolulu Civil Beat

White and purple sign for Slow Street in San Francisco, California with people crossing crosswalk.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths

Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

July 1 - KQED

Tents inhabited by unhoused people lined up on sidewalk in Los Angeles, California in front of industrial building.

California Homeless Arrests, Citations Spike After Ruling

An investigation reveals that anti-homeless actions increased up to 500% after Grants Pass v. Johnson — even in cities claiming no policy change.

July 1 - Times of San Diego

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.