Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The failure of environmental regulation in New York

The role of co-optation, corruption and a co-operative enforcement approach

  • Published:
Crime, Law and Social Change Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study uses public-domain documents to describe the complicity of government actors (including current and former environmental regulators) with organized criminals, in facilitating crimes against the environment within two waste industries of New York State. Qualitative analysis results indicate that a combination of changing market forces, inadequate environmental regulation, and various failed policies and practices of the New York Department of Environmental Conservation can explain the presence, activities, and resilience of organized crime in the construction and demolition debris disposal, and also medical waste incineration industries, as well as provide some preliminary recommendations for preventing further regulatory failure in that state.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Previously presented at the 1995 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Criminology in Boston, Massachusetts, and subsequently revised for publication here.

  2. R. Nader, R. Brownstein and J. Richard,Who's Poisoning America: Corporate Polluters and Their Victims in the Chemical Age, (San Francisco, Sierra Club Books, 1981).

    Google Scholar 

  3. See, for example, A. Block and F. Scarpitti,Poisoning for Profit: The Mafia and Toxic Waste in America, (New York, William Morrow & Co., Inc., 1985). See also E Pearce and S. Tombs, “Ideology, Hegemony and Empiricism: Compliance Theories of Regulation,”British Journal of Criminology 30, 4: 423–443, 1990. Also A. Szasz, “Corporations, Organized Crime, and the Disposal of Hazardous Waste: An Examination of the Making of a Criminogenic Regulatory Structure,”Criminology 24: 1–27, 1986.

    Google Scholar 

  4. D. Rebovich,Dangerous Ground: The World of Hazardous Waste Crime, (New Brunswick, NJ, Transaction Press, 1992).

    Google Scholar 

  5. S. Humphreys, “An Enemy of the People: Prosecuting the Corporate Polluter as a Common Law Criminal,”American University Law Review 39, 2: 315–330, 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  6. See, for example: Y. Brittan, The Impact of Water Pollution Control on Industry: A Case Study of Fifty Dischargers, (Oxford, Centre for Socio-Legal Studies, 1984). See also K. Hawkins,Environment and Enforcement: Regulation and the Social Definition of Pollution, (Oxford, Clarendon Press, 1984). Also Pearce and Tombs, op. cit., 1990. Also G. Richardson, A. Ogus and P. Burrows,Policing Pollution: A Case Study of Regulations and Enforcement, (Oxford, Clarendon Press, 1982).

    Google Scholar 

  7. R. Kagan and J. Scholz, “The Criminology of the Corporation and Regulating Enforcement Strategies,” in K. Hawkins and J. Thomas (eds),Enforcing Regulations, (Boston, Kluwer-Nijhoff Publishers, 1984, p. 73).

    Google Scholar 

  8. Environmental Law Institute, “Pennsylvania Hazardous Waste Enforcement.” Prepared for the Office of Waste Programs Enforcement, RCRA Enforcement Division, U.S. EPA, 1987.

  9. Richardson et al., op. cit., 1982.

  10. Humphreys, op. cit., 1990.

  11. Hawkins, op. cit., 1984, p. 203, emphasis added.

  12. D. Vaughan,Controlling Unlawful Organizational Behavior: Social Structure and Corporate Misconduct, (Chicago, University of Chicago Press, 1983, p. 40).

    Google Scholar 

  13. J. March, “Footnotes to Organizational Change,”Administrative Science Quarterly 26: 563–577, 1981, p. 565.

    Google Scholar 

  14. R. Ritti and J. Silver, “Early Processes of Institutionalization: The Dramaturgy of Exchange in Interorganizational Relations,”Administrative Science Quarterly 31: 25–42, 1986.

    Google Scholar 

  15. L. Sherman, “Three Models of Organizational Corruption in Agencies of Social Control,”Social Problems 27: 478–491, 1980, p. 483, emphasis added.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Vaughan, op. cit., 1983.

  17. International Chamber of Commerce, “ICC Position Paper on Environmental Auditing,”UNEP Industry and Environment, October/November/December 1988, p. 14.

  18. See, for example: International Chamber of Commerce, op. cit., 1988. See also W. Lowrance,Of Acceptable Risk: Science and the Determination of Safety, (Los Altos, CA, William Kaufman Pub., 1976). Also J. Plaut,Follow-Up to the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development: Recommendations for U.S. Government Policy, U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs and Subcommittee on Oceanography, Great Lakes and the Outer Continental Shelf, 1992.

  19. Brittan, op. cit., 1984, pp. 70–71.

  20. Ibid., p. 69.

  21. See, for example: Block and Scarpitti, op. cit., 1985. See also W. Carson, “White-Collar Crime and the Enforcement of Factory Legislation,”British Journal of Criminology 10: 383–398, 1970. Also J. Hammit and P. Reuter,Measuring and Deterring Illegal Disposal of Hazardous Waste: A Preliminary Assessment, A Report Prepared for the U.S. EPA, The RAND Corporation, 1988. Also E. Hochstedler,Corporations as criminals, (Beverly Hills, CA, Sage Publications, 1984). Also Szasz, op. cit., 1986. Also Vaughan, op. cit., 1983.

  22. N. Vig and M. Kraft,Environmental Policy in the 1990s, (Washington, DC, Congressional Quarterly, Inc., 1990).

    Google Scholar 

  23. A. Gore,Earth in the Balance: Ecology and the Human Spirit, (New York, Penguin Group, 1992).

    Google Scholar 

  24. M. Freeman III in Vig and Kraft (eds), op. cit., 1990, p. 161.

  25. D. Mazmanian and D. Morell,Beyond Superfailure: America's Toxics Policy for the 1990s, (Boulder, CO, Westview Press, 1992, p. 142).

    Google Scholar 

  26. W. Rosenbaum,Environmental Politics and Policy, (Washington, DC, Congressional Quarterly, Inc., 1991, p. 124).

    Google Scholar 

  27. Mazmanian and Morell, op. cit., 1992.

  28. F. Pearce, “Responsible Corporations and Regulatory Agencies,”The Political Quarterly, October, pp. 415–431, 1990.

  29. M. Clinard and P. Yeager,Corporate Crime, (New York: Free Press, 1980).

    Google Scholar 

  30. M. Clinard,Corporate Ethics and Crime: The Role of Management, (Beverly Hills, CA, Sage Publications, 1983, p. 150).

    Google Scholar 

  31. Pearce, op. cit., 1990.

  32. A. Block and T. Bernard, “Crime in the Waste Oil Industry,”Deviant Behavior 9: 113–129, 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Block & Scarpitti, op. cit., 1985; Szasz, op. cit., 1986.

  34. Szasz, op. cit., 1986.

  35. Block and Scarpitti, op. cit., 1985.

  36. A. Block,Space, Time & Organized Crime, (New Brunswick, NJ, Transaction, 1994).

    Google Scholar 

  37. P. Reuter,Racketeering in Legitimate Industries: A study in the Economics of Intimidation, (Santa Monica, CA, RAND Corporation, 1987, p. viii).

    Google Scholar 

  38. United States Congress, Senate, Select Committee on Improper Activities in the Labor or Management Field, “Investigation of Improper Activities in the Labor or Management Field, Private Carting Industry (New York and Los Angeles),” 85th Congress, April 29, November 12, 13, 14, 15, and 1.6, 1957.

  39. United States Congress, House of Representatives, Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, public hearing onOrganized Crime and Hazardous Waste Disposal, 96th Congress, 2nd session, December 16, 1980, pp. 7–11.

  40. P. Reuter, “The Cartage Industry in New York,” in M. Tony and A. Reiss (eds),Beyond the Law: Crime in Complex Organizations, (Chicago, University of Chicago Press, 1993).

    Google Scholar 

  41. D. Kenney and J. Finkenauer,Organized Crime in America, (Belmont, CA, Wadsworth Publishing Co., 1995).

    Google Scholar 

  42. Ibid., p. 226.

  43. Reuter, op. cit., 1987.

  44. F. Scarpitti and A. Block, “America's Toxic Waste Racket: Dimensions of the Environmental Crisis,” in T. Bynum (ed.),Organized Crime in America: Concepts and Controversies, (Monsey, NY, Criminal Justice Press, 1987, p. 120).

    Google Scholar 

  45. M. Hinchey,Organized Crime's Involvement in the Waste Hauling Industry, (New York, The New York State Assembly Standing Committee on Environmental Conservation, July 24, 1986).

    Google Scholar 

  46. M. Hinchey,Illegal Dumping in New York State: Who's Enforcing the Law? (New York, The New York State Assembly Standing Committee on Environmental Conservation, April 10, 1992).

    Google Scholar 

  47. Ibid., p. 2.

    Google Scholar 

  48. Ibid.

  49. New York State Assembly Standing Committee on Environmental Conservation,In the Matter of a Public Hearing into the Illegal Disposal of Wastes in the Hudson Valley, (New York, The New York State Legislature, September 14, 1989).

    Google Scholar 

  50. Ibid.

  51. Ibid., p. 67–68.

    Google Scholar 

  52. New York State Assembly Standing Committee on Environmental Conservation,In the Matter of a Private Hearing into the Involvement of Organized Crime in the Waste Disposal Industry, Testimony of Robert J. Conklin, Kingston, NY, July 6, 1989, (New York, The New York State Legislature, p. 45).

    Google Scholar 

  53. New York State Assembly Standing Committee on Environmental Conservation,In the Matter of a Private Hearing into the Involvement of Organized Crime in the Waste Disposal Industry, Testimony of William Farley, Kingston, NY, July 7, 1989, (New York, The New York State Legislature, pp. 74–75).

    Google Scholar 

  54. New York State Assembly Standing Committee on Environmental Conservation,In the Matter of a Private Hearing into the Involvement of Organized Crime in the Waste Disposal Industry, Testimony of William Bubenicek, Kingston, NY, July 10, 1989, (New York, The New York State Legislature, p. 30).

    Google Scholar 

  55. New York State Assembly Standing Committee on Environmental Conservation,In the Matter of a Private Hearing into the Involvement of Organized Crime in the Waste Disposal Industry, Testimony of Lawrence C. Gallagher, Kingston, NY, August 1, 1989, (New York, The New York State Legislature, pp. 21–22).

    Google Scholar 

  56. Ibid., p. 47.

    Google Scholar 

  57. Ibid., p. 33.

    Google Scholar 

  58. Ibid.

  59. Hinchey, op. cit., 1992.

  60. New York State Assembly Standing Committee on Environmental Conservation,In the Matter of a Private Hearing into the Involvement of Organized Crime in the Waste Disposal Industry, Testimony of Judith A. Ferry, Kingston, NY, August 14, 1989, (New York, The New York State Legislature).

    Google Scholar 

  61. New York State Assembly Standing Committee on Environmental Conservation,In the Matter of a Private Hearing into the Involvement of Organized Crime in the Waste Disposal Industry, Testimony of Jerome Sterritt, Albany, NY, July 12, 1989, (New York, The New York State Legislature).

    Google Scholar 

  62. Ibid., p. 51.

    Google Scholar 

  63. New York State Assembly Standing Committee on Environmental Conservation,In the Matter of a Private Hearing into the Involvement of Organized Crime in the Waste Disposal Industry, Testimony of Mark P. Mateunas, Albany, NY, July 13, 1989, (New York, The New York State Legislature).

    Google Scholar 

  64. New York State Assembly Standing Committee on Environmental Conservation,In the Matter of a Private Hearing into the Involvement of Organized Crime in the Waste Disposal Industry, Testimony of Henry M. Ashton, Kingston, NY, August 3, 1989, (New York, The New York State Legislature).

    Google Scholar 

  65. Environmental Law Institute, “State Hazardous Waste Enforcement Study,” Prepared for the Office of Waste Programs Enforcement, RCRA Enforcement Division, U.S. EPA, 1987.

  66. Hammit and Reuter, op. cit., 1988.

  67. Hinchey, op. cit., 1992.

  68. United States Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of New York, In re: Metro New York Health Waste Processing, L.P., and Metro New York Health Waste Processing, Inc. Affidavit Presenting Evidence of Mail Fraud, Securities Fraud, Money Laundering, and Fraud upon the Court, Case No. 93-B-44157, February 25, 1994.

  69. Ibid.

  70. Ibid., p. 10.

  71. Ibid.

  72. Ibid., p. 12.

  73. Fiscal Policy Institute, “New York State's Industrial Development Agencies: Boon or Boondoggle?” Fiscal Policy Institute, Albany, NY, 1992, p. 1.

    Google Scholar 

  74. United States Bankruptcy Court, op. cit.“, 1994. p. 16.

    Google Scholar 

  75. Ibid., p. 19.

    Google Scholar 

  76. R. Sugarman, “Standards go up in Smoke: 51 State Violations for Hospital Incinerator,”The Bronx Daily News, November 6, 1993, p. 1.

  77. W. Bunch, “Bronx Incinerator has Locals Fuming,”New York Newsday, February 11, 1994.

  78. United States Bankruptcy Court, op. cit., 1994, p. 20.

  79. Ibid.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Administration of Justice Program, Penn State University at Fayette, University Drive, P.O. Box 77, 15401, Uniontown, PA, USA

    Timothy S. Carter

Authors
  1. Timothy S. Carter
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Carter, T.S. The failure of environmental regulation in New York. Crime Law Soc Change 26, 27–52 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02226103

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02226103

Keywords

Search

Navigation