GEOH-007. Daniel Parshley interviewed by Betsy Bean, September 24, 2013.
Parshley discusses his early life in Niagara Falls, N.Y., and moving to Brunwick and working as a commercial fisherman and marine researcher. Parshley talks about the inception of the Glynn Environmental Coalition (GEC) in 1989 and early concerns about air quality and Earth Day projects. Parshley talks extensively about GEC, including its stuctrual organization, charter members, and the evolution toward becoming a more politically active organization.
Parshley talks about Superfund sites in Glynn County, including numerous Hercules pollution sites, LCP Chemicals, and chlorine gas at Brunswick High School. Parshley talks about managing the EPA Technical Assistance Grant Program. He discusses the tenor of community meetings and the reaction of the business community to GEC's work. Parshley discusses instances of corruption within the manufacturing plants and the government organizations, as well as the effect of environmental and public health initiatives on jobs and the local economy. He talks about intimidation tactics and the fear of retaliation.
Parshley also discusses the effects of pollution on the African American community and outreach efforts by GEC to the African American community, including education about contaminated seafood for substinence fishermen. He talks about Mad Hatter syndrome and effect of race on the response to pollution and public health concerns. Parshley talks about working with other citizens groups and the reputation of the Glynn Environmental Coalition over time.
For more information, please see the Russell Library Finding Aid for the Georgia Environmental Oral History Collection:
http://purl.libs.uga.edu/russell/RBRL345GEOH/findingaid