Case Study 3.1
Colfax
LEAN Region 3
Central Louisiana is home to the Kisatchie National Forest and the state’s oldest city of Natchitoches, founded in 1714. This region includes:
- Avoyelles Parish
- Catahoula Parish
- Caldwell Parish
- Concordia Parish
- Franklin Parish
- Grant Parish
- La Salle Parish
- Natchitoches Parish
- Rapides Parish
- Vernon Parish
- Winn Parish
About Colfax (The Rock)
Clean Harbors Colfax has operated an open burn/open detonation facility for explosives and reactive waste near Colfax since August 2002. Prior to that, the facility operated from 1983 while owned by R & D Fabricating & Manufacturing, Laidlaw Environmental Services, Rollins and Safety-Kleen. It is the only commercial facility conducting open burning of explosives and reactive waste streams in the United States. Beginning in August 2014, the facility accepted and burned military waste from Camp Minden and was allowed to increase the waste streams and quantity of waste they could burn. A long history of community concerns over air emissions and health impacts was punctuated by the 2018 tank failure releasing potentially contaminated water into the environment. Residents are also impacted by the noise of loud detonations and the resulting vibrations that shake nearby homes. The closest residents live in a predominantly African-American community referred to as “The Rock.” Residents are working to reduce their exposure and the contamination of the environment by requiring the Clean Harbors facility to utilize clean alternate technologies and end open burning/open detonation.
Standards
Grade 8
CCSS-RI.1-8
Cite the relevant textual evidence that most strongly supports an analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
CCSS-RI.7
Integrate and evaluate content presented in diverse formats and media, including visually and quantitatively, as well as in words.
CCSS-RI.9
Analyse how two or more texts address similar themes or topics in order to build knowledge or to compare the approaches the authors take
Grades 9-10
CCSS-RI.1-9.10
Cite relevant and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
CCSS-RI.7-9.10
Analyze various accounts of a subject told in different mediums (e.g., a person’s life story in both print and multimedia), determining which details are emphasized in each account.
CCSS-RI.9
Analyse how two or more texts address similar themes or topics in order to build knowledge or to compare the approaches the authors take.
Grades 11-12
CCS-RI.1-11.12
Cite strong, thorough, and relevant textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text, including determining where the text leaves matters uncertain.
CCSS-RI.7-11.12
Integrate and evaluate multiple sources of information presented in different media or formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively) as well as in words in order to address a question or solve a problem.
CCSS-RI.9
Analyse how two or more texts address similar themes or topics in order to build knowledge or to compare the approaches the authors take.
Civics
C.5
Use geographic representation, demographic data, and geospatial representations to analyze civic issues and government processes.
C.13.f
Explain ways in which competition, free enterprise, and government regulation influence what is produced and allocated in an economy, including national and global consequences.
United States History
US.4
Use geographic representations and demographic data to analyze environmental, cultural, economic and political characteristics and changes.
World History
WH.3
Use geographic representations and demographic data to analyze environmental, cultural, economic, and political characteristics and changes.
WH.6
Evaluate the influence of science, technology, innovation, and explain how these developments have altered societies in the world from 1300 to 2010.
WH.24
Analyse the effect that humans have had on the environment in terms of resources, migration patterns, and global environmental issues.
World Geography
WG.6
Analyze geographic factors that influence economic development.
WG.7
Analyze how governments and political boundaries affect people and places.
Grade 8
8-MS-ESS3-3
Apply scientific principles to design a method for monitoring and minimizing human impact on the environment.
Earth Science
HS-ESS3-4
Evaluate or refine a technological solution that reduces impacts of human activities on natural systems.
Life Sciences
HS-LS2-7
Design, evaluate, and refine a solution for reducing the impacts of human activities on the environment and biodiversity.
Environmental Science
HS-ESS3-4
Evaluate or refine a technological solution that reduces impacts of human activities on natural systems.
Reading Resources
Kaboom Town
A ProPublica investigation into the Clean Harbors facility in Colfax. Clean Harbors, has a contract with the Defense Department to dispose of waste, and is the only commercial facility in the nation that practices open burning of explosives and munitions waste.
Excerpt | Source
Neighbors oppose Central Louisiana burn pit permit renewal
News article from the Louisiana Illuminator.
Excerpt | Source
‘Take care of us’: Colfax residents plea for EPA action over Clean Harbors permit renewal
News article from KALB in Alexandria, LA.
Excerpt | Source
‘The Rock’ residents once lived off the land. They blame a burn pit for turning it toxic.
News article from the Louisiana Illuminator.
Excerpt | Source
The US Military Contracted Burn Pits No One Is Talking About | Overlooked
Mini-documentary from Vice. Length 14:50.
Source
In Colfax, Echoes of Another Conflict
Photo essay by Ashley Gilbertons, published by ProPublica.
Source
One Year, One Facility, 1.7 Million Pounds of Hazardous Waste Burned in Open Air
Interactive chart documenting the hazardous waste burned in 2015 at Clean Harbors Colfax. Published by ProPublica.
Source
Extended Reading Activity
Watch The U.S. Military Contracted Burn Pits No One Is Talking About | Overlooked, and analyze “One Year, One Facility, 1.7 Million Pounds of Hazardous Waste Burned in Open Air”.
Alternatively, if you are unable to watch the video in class, read “Kaboom Town” instead of watching the mini-documentary. Then discuss and answer the essential questions for this unit. Answers will vary to the questions, however, students should be able to grasp the basic power dynamics of the situation.
Expansion
This can be transformed into a larger activity by reading and watching the previously listed texts and video, as well as “‘The Rock’ residents once lived off the land. They blame a burn pit for turning it toxic.”, “In Colfax, Echoes of Another Conflict”, and “Kaboom Town”, and discuss and answer the essential questions.
Click here to access a worksheet of the essential questions.