Advisor: Dr. Susan L. Cutter
Abstract
Hazardous materials accidents have tremendous potential to harm people and
the environment depending upon the location of the accident and the type of
cargo, among other factors. Unfortunately, the lack of reliable data on the type
and quantity of hazardous materials transported in the United States makes it
difficult for emergency officials to develop mitigation plans. Accordingly, this
research has two purposes: first, to identify patterns in hazardous materials
transportation in South Carolina, and second, to assess the vulnerability of
those areas that would be most adversely affected were an accident to occur.
This research was accomplished through a statewide survey of commercial
interstate highway truck traffic and the construction of a model to
predict likely accident areas and who would be most affected in those locations.
The three primary research questions are:
1.
Is there any geographic variability in the distribution of hazardous
materials transportation based on time of day, day of week and season?
2.
Are the materials being transported remaining within South Carolina
(intrastate shipments) or are they passing through the state (interstate
shipments)?
3.
What routes within South Carolina are most vulnerable to hazmat spills
and what populations along those routes are most at risk?
The examination revealed that geographic variability did exist. Interstate 85
in the Upstate had a higher frequency of both regular and hazmat vehicles. The
Upstate also varied from the Low Country with a hazmat peak mid-week as opposed
to Monday and Tuesday for the latter. The primary chemicals transported varied
little across regions. The majority of hazmat travel was intrastate except for
traffic on Interstate 85 where the highway served to connect businesses in
Georgia and North Carolina. Populations living near highways in Jasper,
Charleston, Richland, Greenville, and Spartanburg Counties appear the most
vulnerable to a hazmat accident. This research is useful in that it identifies
the type and quantity of hazardous materials, the routes that are at risk, the
population at risk, and the opportunity to better allocate resources to those
areas in need.
Thesis completed 2004, Department of Geography, University of South Carolina