rz.ljtt:er.s Eagleton Fnst, ute of Pohtics New Brunsw,c. New Jersey O Otlic 4ar-1CbgCr/EAGLETON POLL

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1 FOR RELEASE: SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1986 CONTACT: BOB CARTER OR RELEASE: SL/EP13-3 (EP63-3) MICHAEL DELLI CARPINI RELEASE INFORMATION A story based on the survey findings presented in this release and back ground memo will appear in Sunday s Star-Ledger. Other newspapers may rz.ljtt:er.s Eagleton Fnst, ute of Pohtics New Brunsw,c. New Jersey O TOXIC WASTES IN NEW JERSEY: PUBLIC CONCERN IS ON THE RISE; MOST OPPOSE TREATMENT PLANT IN OWN COMMUNITY problem of toxic and chemical wastes is on the rise again in New Jersey, according to the latest Star-Ledger/Eagleton Poll, The number of New Jerseyans who say they are personally very concerned over this issue has increased to nearly 7-in-IC, while four-in-every-five residents continue to say that toxic waste cleanup is a very serious problem in the state. Two-thirds of New Jerseyans feel toxic wastes pose a direct threat to their family s health. The survey, conducted between October 10 and 19 with 800 residents, also finds with the pace of toxic waste dump cleanups, with more New Jerseyans now feeling it the same time, however, 6-in-iC residents say they would oppose state government - more - ATTENTION RADIO STATIONS: Audio is available after 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 8 from (201) (Rutgers Feature Phone). HE STATE UNM)SITV OF N jerv efforts to build a toxic waste treatment plant in their community. is a major problem which must be dealt with immediately rather than gradually. At efforts to clean up toxic wastes. In addition, there is growing public impatience two-thirds of New Jerseyans giving state government negative ratings for its After declining somewhat over the past several years, public concern over the attribute this copyrighted information to the Star-Ledger/Eagleton Poll. release after 6:00 p.m. Saturday, November 8. We ask users to properly also use this information in their Sunday editions. Electronic media may Otlic 4ar-1CbgCr/EAGLETON POLL

2 they have become more concerned about the health hazards of toxic wastes, concerned. Also, more than 7-in-lO residents say that over the last few years years ago), while 28 percent are somewhat concerned and 4 percent are not very concerned about the problem of chemical and toxic wastes (up from 59 percent two Sixty-eight percent of New Jerseyans currently say they are personally very -more- this area as excellent or good, while 66 percent give negative ratings of only wastes. Only 28 percent of New Jerseyans rate the job state government is doing in State government currently receives low marks for its efforts to clean up toxic for quite some time. remains at the top of the list of the public s concerns, where it is likely to stay levels seen at the beginning of this decade. Obviously this is an issue which now is an increase in the intensity of concern over toxic wastes, back toward the Bob Carter, associate director of the Poll, commented, What we re seeing right percent of those over 50. threat is greatest among those aged 30 to 49, 74 percent of whom say toxic wastes to their family s health, compared to 3-in-iD who do not. Concern over the health opinion. Fully two-thirds of New Jerseyans feel toxic wastes pose a direct threat problem in other areas of the state, while 24 percent now say it is more of a problem where they live--up from 17 percent in The remainder offer no firm to their family s health. Sixty-seven percent say toxic wastes are more of a are a direct health threat, compared to 67 percent among 18 to 29 year olds and 58 Also, a large majority of New Jerseyans feel that toxic.wastes are a direct threat increase in the perception that it may be a cause for concern closer to home. While most New Jerseyans continue to perceive toxic wastes as more of a problem in other parts of the state rather than where they live, there has been a small compared to only 3 percent who say they are less concerned than they used to be. EP63-3 (SL/EP13-3) Page 2

3 The current survey also reveals that New Jerseyans are less willing to be their assessments of state government performance. good) are somewhat less negative than women (only 22 percent excellent or good) in fair or poor. The remainder express no opinion. Men (34 percent excellent or -more- to clean up toxic waste dumps is reflected in the public s response to the issue of they feel this way because they do not believe such facilities can be safe, while to their opposition, while the remainder express no firm opinion. decisions. Another 13 percent say both of these reasons would contribute equally 33 percent say it is more because they don t trust government to make such Among residents who would not willingly accept such a facility, 46 percent say treatment plant in their community, while the remainder offer no firm opinion. treatment plant in their community by a 69 to 55 percent margin. Women are much more likely than men to say they would oppose a toxic waste not be a health hazard. Only 31 percent of residents would accept a waste treatment plant in their community, even with assurances that such a facility would New Jerseyans say they would oppose state government efforts to build a toxic waste siting a toxic waste treatment facility in their community. Sixty-two percent of One of the major problems which may face government officials in their efforts see it done more gradually. 42 percent would have insisted on immediate cleanup and 51 percent were willing to time. Those figures represent a shift of 25 points from two years ago, when just feel clean up should be done gradually so that the cost can be spread out over problem that must be done immediately regardless of the cost, while 39 percent A clear majority of 55 percent agree that cleaning up such hazards is a major patient when it comes to cleaning up chemical dumps than they were two years ago. EP63-3 (SL/EP13-3) Page 3

4 The toxic waste problem continues to be perceived as more serious than either want the solution in their own back yard. involve things like storage and treatment facilities, most of the public doesn t public wants something to be done about solving this problem, but if it s going to Carter commented, Government officials face a very tough situation in that the Copyright, The Eagleton Institute/Newark Star-Ledger, 1g having declined somewhat from the state, and 38 percent say inflation is very serious, both of these figures pollution in New Jersey. Forty-one percent now say unemployment is very serious in 58 percent respectively who feel the same way about water pollution and air Jerseyans say cleanup of toxic wastes is a very serious problem, compared to 64 and economic issues or other pollution problems. Eighty-one percent of all New EP63-3 (SL/EPI3-3) Page 4 (

5 The latest Star-Ledger/Eagleton Poll was conducted between October 10 and 19, 1986, when a random sample of New Jerseyans, (18 years and older) was interviewed by The questions and figures referred to in this release are as follows: ±3.5 percent at a 95 percent confidence interval. Sampling error is the probable account other possible sources of error inherent in any study of public opinion. scientific sample taken from that population. Sampling error does not take into difference in results between interviewing everyone in a population versus a telephone. Figures presented for the total sample of 800 have a sampling error of BACKGROUND MEMO--RELEASE SL/EP13-3 (EP63-3), SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1986 RUTGERS Eogetcn IrslltLre at Pc t Cs New Brcrsw c New Jersey EPS Ccr.v EPsE not asked this question. ** Those New Jerseyans who reported they had heard nothing about toxic wastes were October, % 3% 25% 0% February, (792) 100% (751) More Less No Change Don t Know concerned about health Total changed?** hazards associated with toxic wastes, less concerned, or has Thinking back over the last few years, have you become more your opinion not 0 99 (568) 0 99 (481) 0 99 (792) October, % 28% 4% February, October, March, % 100% (751) concerned concerned concerned know Total LnJ. Very Somewhat Not very Don t Jersey--very concerned, somewhat concerned, or not very concerned?** How concerned are you personally about the problem of chemical wastes here in New March, (603) Great Just a Nothing deal Some little at all Total jpj. How much have you heard or read about this--a great deal, some, just a little or chemicals in the environment and the safe disposal of hazardous wastes. nothing at all? October, % 37% 14% 8% 100% (800) February, (804) October, (499) There has been some discussion in the news lately about problems of toxic &Lte Ear-ICbgCr/EAGLETON POLL

6 35 March, (541) February, % (753) October, % 67% 7% 2% 100% (728) dent lives areas Both know Total jjjj, Where Respon- Other Don t In the township or municipality where you live.)** in other areas of the state? (IF RESPONDENT ASKS WHAT YOU MEAN BY AREA, SAY, Is this more of a problem in the area where you live, or is it more of a problem October, (465) --women (400) --men (400) October, % 26% 49% 17% 7% 101% (800) ( Gender Excellent Good Only Fair Poor know Total jpj. Don t waste--excellent, good, only fair, or poor? How would you rate the job state government is doing in cleaning-up toxic not asked this question. ** Those New Jerseyans who reported they had heard nothing about toxic wastes were (237) (164) (336) Age--Oct., 1986 October, % 31% 3% 100% (750) February, (804) Does Does Not Don t Know Total jfl, direct threat to your family s healthv ** Do you feel the problem of toxic wastes in New Jersey does or does not pose a February, (792 October, % 39% 4% 1% 99% (751 October, (4[ the cost. over time, spend money on. D.K. Total jjj regardless of can be spread out tant problems to done immediately so that the cost are more impor March, (55 that must be be done gradually problem, there major problem clean-up should an immediate Clean-up is a While a problem, Clean-up is not hazardous wastes. Please tell me which comes closest to your position.** I m going to read you three statements about cleaning-up chemical dumps and EP63-3 (SL/EPI3-3) -2-

7 Inflation S E R I U Ii S N E S $ or not at all serio us? read could you tell me if you think it is a very serious problem, somewhat serious, Very Somewhat Not at all Don t Know Total Lri) I m going to read you a 1 ist of problems here in New Jersey. For each problem I *Asked only if opposed, depends or don t know in question above. October, % 33% jab 3/0 I 0/ 5% 100% (568) can be safe Don t believe government Both Depends know Total Jjj. Don t trust Don t make such decisions?fl* don t believe they can ever be safe, or because you don t trust the government to Would you not be willing to ac cept such a facility in your community because you - -women 23 6g 3 (400) S men (399) Gender October, % 3/0 1/0 62% 0, 100% (799) Accept Oppose Depends Don t know Total would you be willing to accept such a facility, or would you oppose it? treatment plant in your community which they said would not be a health hazard, toxic wastes. If the state government said they wanted to build a toxic waste New Jersey is faced with a growing problem of finding places to store and treat --February, October, 1986 Toxic Wastes Air Pollution Clean-up of October, - -February, 1986 Unempl oyment - -February, October, February, October, October, --February % 15 43% 19% Water Poll ut ion (804) 100 (804) 100 (800) 1 0/ 1 / / 101 (800) 101 (804) 99 (804) gg (804) 99 (800) 100 (800) 101% (800) EP63-3 (SL/EP13-3) -3-

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