The Dust Bowl | The Battle in Muscatine | 4

Air pollution had long been a problem in Muscatine, Iowa.

For decades, a corn-processing plant had been operating in the south end of town. And according to locals, the facility’s emissions were so strong, some people gagged just by breathing in the air.

But a group of residents wouldn’t accept the status quo. And with the help of public-interest attorneys, they launched a legal battle that would redefine Muscatine.

In this interview, Scott Entin, one of the residents’ attorneys, tells the story of this long and difficult fight. And he explains how the group’s legal strategy could help address other environmental crises, including climate change.

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