Stoll quoted in P-G report on economics of Fox River cleanup

Prof. John Stoll told the Green Bay Press-Gazette that cleanup of the Fox River is expensive but not, “just ‘money down a rat hole’ as some might think.” Stoll conducted a 1997 survey that showed Northeast Wisconsin residents at the time would have been willing to pay extra to help restore the river and lower Green Bay to a “desired state.” “Expenditures for cleanup of natural systems are done to create economic benefits for citizens,” Stoll said. Read article.

2002 study found residents were willing to pay for cleanup
Published in 2002, John Stoll’s survey report (Estimating Economic Benefits of Cleaning Up Contaminated Sediments in Great Lakes Areas of Concern) found that that the average survey respondent’s household was willing to make a hypothetic annual contribution of $221 to have a cleaner river and lower bay. The work was viewed as a pilot effort to demonstrate methodology while also providing initial estimates of citizen valuation of restoration. Writes Stoll, “Expenditures for clean-up of natural systems are done to create economic benefits for citizens — and the fact that citizens are willing to pay for clean-up indicates that they do in fact recognize that such restoration efforts create economic value for current and future generations.” The study thus quantities another economic factor, apart from seeking lower-cost products for consumers and enhanced ROI for companies and their investors.