ENVIRONMENTAL LAW SYLLABUS

Spring 2002 - Professor Johnson


Meeting Times and Location Texts for the Class
Attendance Policy Contact Professor Johnson
Virtual Guest Speakers Environmental Law Clearinghouse

Class assignments:

January
 
 
   
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31 

 
February
 
 
     
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28 
 
 

 
March
 
 
 
   
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28 
29
30 
 31
 
 
       

 
April
1
2
3
4
 6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
       

 
May
   
1
2
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29 
 30
 31
 


January 23
Environmental Philosophies and Values
Text pp. 1-17
Related Web Sites
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List


January 25
Economics and Ecology
Text pp. 30-62 (Skim 36-44)
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List


January 28
Common law actions
Text pp. 71-87
Related Web Sites
Discussion list
Professor Goldstein joins the Multi School Discussion List


January 30
Common law actions
Text pp. 87-102
Related Web Sites
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List


February 1
Public Law
Text pp. 102-133
Related Web Sites
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List



February 4
Regulation and its alternatives
Text pp. 133-149; handouts
Related Web Sites
Discussion list


February 6
Regulation and its alternatives (cont.)
Text pp. 150-158, 160-167; 36-44
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List


February 8
Basic Principles of Administrative Law
Text pp. 167-182
CALI on the Administrative Procedures Act (as preparation for this class).
Related Web Sites
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List


February 11
Basic Principles of Administrative Law
Text pp. 183-191
Skim Christensen v. Harris County (Thomas' opinion)
Skim U.S. v. Mead
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List


February 13
Endangered Species: Part I
Text pp. 906-912; 924-938; Northern Spotted Owl v. Hodel
Related Web Sites
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List


February 15
Endangered Species: Part II
Text pp. 939-943; 947-972
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List


February 18
NEPA; Judicial Review and Standing
Text pp. 839-856; 872-883; 1054-1056
Skim Bennett v. Spear
Related Web Sites
Discussion list



February 22
Standing (cont.)
Text pp. 1029-1054; Skim 1071-1081
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List


February 25
Environmental Justice
Handouts
Text pp. 19-27
Related Web Sites
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List


February 27
Environmental Justice (cont.)
Handouts
Text pp. 361-372
Related Web Sites
Discussion list


March 1
Introduction to RCRA
Text pp. 193-220
Skim sections 2002, 3006, 3009 and 7006 of RCRA
Related Web Sites
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List


March 4
The definition of solid waste under RCRA
Text pp. 220-232
Skim Association of Battery Recyclers, Inc. v. EPA (Randolph/Ginsburg Opinion - Part I.A. only)
Skim 40 C.F.R.sections 261.1 and 261.4.
Related Web Sites
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List


March 6
Identifying Hazardous Waste
Text pp. 232-239; Shell Oil handout
Related Web Sites
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List


March 8
Identifying Hazardous Waste (cont.)
Text pp. 239-259
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List


March 11
RCRA Subtitle D; Introduction to CERCLA
Text pp. 259-269, handout
Related Web Sites
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List


March 13
Responsible Parties under CERCLA (Owners/Operators)
Text pp. 267-269; 275-283
Related Web Sites
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List

March 15
Class Cancelled


March 18
Guest Speaker - Ray Coss - Bridgestone/Firestone


March 20
Responsible Parties under CERCLA (Former Owners/Operators)
Text pp. 283-292; Nurad v. Hooper
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List


March 22
Responsible Parties under CERCLA and response costs
Text pp. 292-305
Skim CERCLA sections 104(i); 107(a)(4); 107(e); and 107(f)
Related Web Sites
Discussion list
 Multi School Discussion List


March 25-March 29
Spring Break
No classes



April 1
Class cancelled


April 3
Liability under CERCLA
Text pp. 305-316
Related Web Sites
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List


April 5
Liability under CERCLA (cont.)
Text pp. 316-326; U.S. v. Alcan Aluminum
Skim 326-330
CALI on "Superfund Basics" (Do the CALI after this class).
Related Web Sites
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List


April 8
Introduction to the Clean Water Act
Text pp. 623-643; handout
Related Web Sites
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List


April 10
Effluent standards under the Clean Water Act
Text pp. 661-679
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List


April 12
Effluent standards under the Clean Water Act
Text pp. 679-699; Handouts; Skim 752-758
Related Web Sites
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List


April 15
Water quality standards
Text pp. 699-716; 729-733
Related Web Sites
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List


April 17
Wetlands: Part I
Text pp. 644-649 (notes 1+2); 734-746
Related Web Sites
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List


April 19
Wetlands: Part II
Text pp. 649 (note 3) - 661; SWANCC materials (Percival update)
Read 746-751; Bersani handouts
Related Web Sites
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List


April 22
Class cancelled
 

April 24
Wetlands permitting and "takings" issues
Skim text pp. 787-821
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List
CALI on "Wetlands" (Do the Wetlands CALI after this class)


April 26
Enforcement of Environmental Laws
Text pp. 985-1002; 1010-1029 (skim 1013-1025)
Related Web Sites
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List


April 29
Enforcement of Environmental Laws (cont.)
 Text pp. 1056-1070; 1081-1083
Related Web Sites
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List


May 1
Enforcement of Environmental Laws (cont.)
Text pp. 1083-1089; 1091-1096 (Do the Citizen Suit CALI after this class)
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List



May 3
Exam Review and last class


Meeting Times and Location

MW: 9:40 in Courtroom
F: 10:50 in Courtroom

Texts

Percival, Miller, Schroeder, and Leape
Environmental Regulation: Law, Science and Policy(3d ed.)
(Note: although a 2001 supplement to the Percival book is available, you do not need to purchase it for this class)

 West's Environmental Statutes (supplement)


Attendance Policy

Attendance is mandatory.  If a student accumulates more than 6 unexcused absences during the semester, the student will not pass the course.  A student who has not read the assigned materials for the class will be marked absent.

Preparation for class is mandatory.  Class participation and electronic participation will be considered in grading.


Contact information
Professor Stephen Johnson  (Home Page)
Room 311
(478) 301-2192
Johnson_s@mercer.edu

 


May 1
The Pollution Prevention Act: A non-regulatory approach
Handouts
Related Web Sites
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List