The Love Canal Tragedy

The Love Canal Tragedy— a historical event which had an immense impact on the lives of those involved, as well as the laws and regulations set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It began as a plan by entrepreneur William T. Love to construct a canal that could act as a water source and conduct power using hydroelectricity, but rather served as a connector between Lake Ontario and the Niagara River. While his proposal sounded as though it would be a success, all construction came to a halt with the occurrence of an economic depression known as the Panic of 1893. The canal’s only use was as a place to swim during scorching summer’s up until the 1940’s, when Hooker Chemical and Plastic Corporation, an American chemical company which
As Hooker predicted, during the late 1970s, the clay seal cracked and began seeping into the basements of residents living atop of the poorly concealed waste. After researching into the tragedy, Hooker Chemical Company should hold complete accountability for the suffering endured by the Love Canal residents, due to their inappropriate method for disposing of its chemical waste.

The Environmental Protection Agency, an agency of the United States Federal government created to protect human health and the environment, wrote a narrative on its Superfund program for the Love Canal. In the text, the EPA said “The abandoned excavation, partially filled with water, was used largely for recreational purposes. The canal was about 9,750 feet long and ranged in depth from 10 to 25 feet. Hooker Chemicals & Plastics Corporation (now Occidental Chemical Corporation, or OXY) disposed of over 21,000 tons of hazardous chemicals into the abandoned Love Canal between 1942 and 1953, contaminating soil and groundwater.” Hooker’s disposal method is one that would be frowned upon during that time and today as well. Dynasafe is a global marketing company which has promoted safe disposal methods for chemical waste over the past twenty years. These methods
They neglected to make a further attempt to warn the school board, hid the early signs of an epidemic soon after the construction, and remained silent while hundreds of residents protested to escape from the devastating effects and loss brought upon them. Chronic illnesses, ailments, and horrid memories that they are forced to cope with for the remainder of their lives. And now, possibly in the lives of those living near its remains