Spring, 2000: SYLLABUS

Environmental Law and Regulations

ENV 1400, Section 03426

Welcome to Environmental Law and Regulations! In this course we will explore the basis for environmental laws and regulations, in particular the underlying form of law, as well as the dynamics and principles that guide the development of regulations. We will also spend considerable time understanding the key pieces of Federal legislation and regulatory programs.

Credits: Lecture 3 credits

Prerequisites: ENV 1300 Environmental Science

Instructor: Thorne Abbott

Office Phone#: 301-934-7814

Email: Thornea@charles.cc.md.us

• ThorneAbbott@yahoo.com
• www.coastalzone.com\webcourse\courses.htm

Office Location: HT#739 Friendly Hall Campus

Office Hours:

• Wednesday 4:00 PM - 6:30 PM
• Tuesday & Thursday 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM

Course Description:

The course is designed to provide the student with an introduction to the laws and regulations that permit and regulate activities in the environment of the United States. The student will learn the Constitutional basis for environmental laws, the role of the Federal Government in the creation and implementation of environmental regulations and the relationships between Federal and State laws and programs. Law making and the political process will be studied as well as the role of special interests, public opinion and science in the process. Major environmental laws will be reviewed both from a political perspective and the application of regulations. Case studies will be used to illustrate the use and impact of regulatory programs. Students will participate in problem solving exercises throughout the class.

Class Schedule:

• Tuesdays from 7:00 PM until 9:50 PM at the Calvert Campus.

Required Text:

• Environmental Law for Non-Lawyers by David B. Firestone and Frank C. Reed.
• Students will be also asked to complete readings held on reserve in the Library

Course Objectives: Students successfully completing ENV 1400 will

• Be familiar with the process of passing environmental legislation
• Be familiar with the process of developing regulations, including the role of public comment and participation
• Understand the underlying principles embodied in US Federal law and programs
• Have experience researching and interpreting environmental regulations
• Have become familiar with regulations and applied them in problem solving exercises
• Performed a media specific regulatory review and prepared recommendations for compliance planning, and for changes in the existing law/regulations
• Reviewed the current federal regulatory programs for hazardous waste, toxics, clean water and drinking water, endangered species and air pollution
• Reviewed the current state programs for nonpoint source pollution, smart growth and superfund
• Select and follow a piece of legislation during the 1999 Maryland legislative session

General Education Skills and Knowledge:

• Students successfully completing ENV 1400 will have demonstrated competency in the following academic skills:
• The ability to read college-level material.
• To define or interpret unfamiliar words, and to use features such as the table of contents, index, appendix and glossary.
• Conduct careful, thoughtful observations of objects in nature and science.
• Describe their observations and measurements accurately using appropriate terms and units.
• Interpret and draw conclusions based on their observations and measurements.
• Evaluate the significance of their conclusions.
• Interpret, analyze and evaluate spoken messages
• Identify the main and subordinate ideas in spoken messages.
• Distinguish between informative and persuasive spoken messages.
• Follow spoken instructions.
• Recognize valid and invalid reasoning.
• Understand and use inductive and deductive reasoning
• Draw reasonable conclusions from information found in various sources.
• Distinguish between fact, opinion and inference.
• Compare, contrast and classify information and concepts.
• Recognize and analyze cause and effect

Attendance:

• The college requires that attendance be kept for administrative purposes. The instructor, however, is not required to use attendance or lack of it in the determination of grades. You will not be penalized for missing classes, however, since much of the lecture examination and all of the lab examination is based on in class discussion, it is to your advantage not to miss a lecture or lab unless absolutely necessary. Arriving late or leaving early may cause disruptions in the class. If you arrive late it is necessary to see me to be sure attendance is recorded properly. If you must leave class early see me at the beginning of class.

Out-of Class Assistance:

• Instructor’s hours are established for the purpose of assisting students outside of regular class times. The student should feel free to seek assistance, if necessary, during scheduled office hours. If these times are in conflict with the student’s schedule, the student should make an appointment with the instructor either in person or through the Department’s secretary. Scheduled office hours are listed on the first page of this syllabus.

Visitors:

• NO CHILDREN ARE ALLOWED IN CLASSROOM OR LAB.
• NO VISITORS ARE ALLOWED IN CLASSROOM OR LAB.

Test Content:

• Exams will include subject material covered in lecture and any assigned readings from the text or library.

Test Format:

• The exam format will be multiple-choice, fill in the blank type questions, and short essay-type questions with answers expected to be 3-5 relevant sentences.

Grading Procedure:

• Lecture: 3 Exams, 1 paper, participation

Grade Calculation :

• Exams: 25% each
• Paper: 20%
• Participation: 5%.

General Final Grading Scale for Course Grade:

• 90 - 100% = A
• 80 - 89% = B
• 70 - 79% = C
• 60 - 69% = D
• Below 60%= F
  

Border Line Grading Policy:

• A student with a border line numerical course average will be given the higher or lower grade at the discretion of the instructor.

Make-Up Exam Policy:

• For valid reasons (i.e., hospital stay, emergencies, etc.), a student MAY be excused from taking an exam at the scheduled time. In order to do this, the student MUST discuss with the instructor the reason for being excused, obtain permission, and make arrangements to take the exam either before or after the scheduled time. If a student fails to take an exam at the scheduled time without permission of the instructor, she/he must present a written excuse (i.e., doctor’s note, etc.). In this case, the student MUST make arrangements to take the exam WITHIN ONE WEEK of the originally scheduled time. IF THE STUDENT FAILS TO FOLLOW THIS PROCEDURE, SHE/HE WILL RECEIVE A GRADE OF ZERO (0) FOR THAT EXAM.

Student Honesty:

• ALL FORM OF DISHONESTY, INCLUDING CHEATING AND PLAGIARISM, WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. A grade of ZERO (0) will be given for any exam, project, etc., on which the student cheated or used plagiarized material. In addition, the student shall be subject to disciplinary action, as set forth under "Judicial Procedures" in the CCCC Student Handbook which may result in their dismissal from the college.

Disability Policy:

• If you have a learning or other disability which might affect your performance in this class, please inform your instructor as soon as possible or contact the College's Learning Specialist ext.7614 in the Learning Assistance Center, in order to verify your status and provide you with appropriate assistance/accommodations. Even if you do not have a learning disability you might want to make use of these services.

Inclement Weather:

• WXTR - 104.1 FM - Charles County
• WMAL - 63 A - Washington D.C./metro area
• WMJS - 92.7 FM - Calvert County
• WKIK - 1370 AM - St. Mary’s County
• WCMD- 1560 AM - Charles County
• College Weather Hotline: (301) 369-1999

SYLLABUS

ENV 1400: Environmental Law & Regulation

This schedule is subject to change. In the event of a canceled class, the activity planned for the canceled class will move to the next class period. The LAST DAY TO WITHDRAW from a class without a grade, or to change an audit-to-credit, and credit to audit status is Friday, April 21, 2000.