They refuse to monitor. They gather evidence that the agencies should be gathering. They learn to use the media. They contact experts and they begin to develop expertise themselves. They begin to realize that they are capable and powerful.
Local people push the issue and public hearings are held.
Now of course it is not up to the citizenry to re-design America's industrial apparatus. Until recently, there was no single source for information on alternative technologies for chemical disposal. Anyone looking for real solutions at Superfund sites will want to read this new CCHW report. It describes 55 different technologies that might be applied to a cleanup situation, depending on the nature of the local problem. SITE is formally evaluating 10 new technologies for cleanup.