In some cases, the number of jobs at these facilities decreased over time. According to officials at these facilities, the  salaries for the jobs provided varied from about $15,000 to $80,000 per year,  depending on factors such as the type of work and the location of the  facility. They also made  infrastructure improvements, such as installing a new water drainage  system. In addition, some of the facilities made or were planning to make  financial contributions in the communities where they were located. These  financial contributions would assist schools and universities as well as  community groups and other organizations. Information on Property Values

Property values in a community are affected by many factors, including the  condition of the land and houses; the proximity of the property to natural  or manmade structures—such as the facilities covered by this study—that  might be viewed as desirable or undesirable; and economic conditions in  the surrounding or adjacent communities. In locations where property values were not available, community groups  voiced concerns that the facilities would cause property values to decline. Incentives Received by the Facilities

Six of the 15 facilities we studied said they used incentives or subsidies that  were available in a particular area. The incentives varied, depending on the type of facility  and its location, but included tax exemptions, a local bond initiative,  reductions in regulatory fees, and reduced utility rates. Most of  these facilities have operated since the 1980s and 1990s.
Why GAO Did This Study

Industrial facilities that operate under permits regulating some emissions and discharges have been the subject of complaints from community groups and environmental activists who charge that the facilities expose the surrounding communities to greater environmental risk than the general population. In response, the facilities point out that they contribute to the economic growth of the surrounding communities by employing residents and supporting other community needs, such as schools and infrastructure.

What GAO Found

In a survey of selected facilities, GAO found that the number of jobs in some decreased over time. According to facility officials, these jobs included unskilled, trade, technical, administrative, and professional positions with salaries ranging from $15,000 to $80,000 per year. Most of the facilities identified other contributions that they had made or planned to make in the local communities. These included volunteer work such as organizing cleanups; infrastructure improvements such as installing a new water drainage system; and financial assistance to schools, universities, community groups, and other organizations. Property values in a community are affected by many factors, including the condition of the land and houses, the proximity of the property to natural or man-made structures--such as the facilities covered by this study--that might be viewed as desirable or undesirable, and economic conditions in the surrounding or adjacent communities. Information on property values was unavailable for most of the communities and facilities studied. In these locations, community groups voiced concerns that the facilities would cause property values to decline. Officials at 6 of the 15 facilities GAO studied said they had used available incentives or subsidies. The incentives varied, depending on the type of facility and its location, but included tax exemptions, a local bond initiative, reductions in regulatory fees, and reduced utility rates.