A cooperative approach by developer and community to facilitate siting a controversial industrial facility in a rural community

This study discusses how conflict in the industrial siting process often occurs when the industrial developer does not incorporate community involvement into this process. Residents fear possible detrimental effects a proposed industrial facility may have on a community. Their fears are often based on qualitative risk perceptions. The developer usually favorably perceives his proposed industrial facility from a quantitative risk perspective. Most industrial sitings occur in a seller's market. When the developer tries to site a controversial industrial facility, the developer can better reconcile these differences in risk perceptions in the paradigm of a buyer's market. The developer is also encouraged to engage in a risk communications process with community residents early in the siting process where community concerns about a proposed industrial facility are addressed. Community acceptance of a controversial industrial facility is mainly contingent upon. the developer's credibility and how well he addresses the community's risk perceptions or concerns. The two case studies in this paper demonstrate how an ineffective risk communication's process can hinder a developer's siting efforts, whereas an effective risk communication's process can help siting efforts.