ENVIRONMENTAL LAW SYLLABUS

Spring 2008 - Professor Johnson



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

Class assignments:


January
 
 
 
   
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February
         
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March
 
 
 
     
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April
   
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May
 
 
 
 
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January 15
Environmental Philosophies and Values
Text pp. 3-8
Related Web Sites
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List


January 17
Economics and Ecology
Text pp. 26-30; 38-40; 49-52 
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List


January 18
Common law actions
Text pp. 61-63; 67-75
Related Web Sites
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List


January 22
Common law actions
Text pp. 75-87
Related Web Sites
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List


January 24
Public Law
Text pp. 98-107
Related Web Sites
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List

January 25
Regulation and its alternatives
Text pp. 116-121; 126-130; handouts
Related Web Sites
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List

January 29
Regulation and its alternatives (cont.)
Text pp. 130-137; 30-34
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List

February 1
Basic Principles of Administrative Law
Text pp. 144-150; Skim 150-153
CALI on the Administrative Procedures Act (as preparation for this class).
Related Web Sites
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List

February 5
Basic Principles of Administrative Law
Text pp. 157-164
Skim U.S. v. Mead
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List

February 7
Endangered Species: Part I
Text pp. 868-876; Northern Spotted Owl v. Hodel;Skim pp. 863-868; 898-903
Related Web Sites
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List

February 8, 12
Endangered Species: Part II
Text pp. 903-906; 915-929
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List

February 14
NEPA
Text pp. 795-797; 805-810; 823-830
Related Web Sites
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List

February 15
Judicial Review and Standing
Text pp. 997-998; 977-983
Skim Bennett v. Spear
Related Web Sites
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List

February 19
Standing (cont.)
Text pp. 983-997
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List

February 21
Environmental Justice
Handouts
Text pp. 15-24
Related Web Sites
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List

February 22
Environmental Justice (cont.)
Handouts
Skim text pp. 455-462
Landfill Hypothetical
Related Web Sites
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List

February 26
Introduction to RCRA
Text pp. 319-331
Skim sections 2002, 3006, 3009 and 7006 of RCRA
Related Web Sites
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List

February 28
The definition of solid waste under RCRA
Text pp. 331-341
Skim 40 C.F.R.sections 261.1 and 261.4.
Related Web Sites
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List

February 29
Identifying Hazardous Waste
Text pp. 341-347; Shell Oil handout
Related Web Sites
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List

March 4
Identifying Hazardous Waste (cont.)
Text pp. 347-356
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List

March 6
RCRA Subtitle D; Introduction to CERCLA
Text pp. 363-371
Related Web Sites
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List

March 7
Responsible Parties under CERCLA (Owners/Operators)
Text pp. 374-381
Related Web Sites
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List

March 11
Responsible Parties under CERCLA (Former Owners/Operators)
Text pp. 381-384; Nurad v. Hooper
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List

March 13
Responsible Parties under CERCLA and response costs
Text pp. 389-401
Skim CERCLA sections 104(i); 107(a)(4); 107(e); and 107(f)
Related Web Sites
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List

March 14
Liability under CERCLA
Text pp. 401-411
Related Web Sites
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List


March 17 - 21 
Spring Break
No classes

March 25
Liability under CERCLA (cont.)
Text pp. 416-417; 423-430 (up to, but not including note 6); Skim pp. 417-423
CALI on "Superfund Basics" (Do the CALI after this class).
Related Web Sites
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List

March 27
Introduction to the Clean Water Act
Text pp. 592-599; 703-705
Related Web Sites
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List

March 28
Effluent standards under the Clean Water Act
Text pp. 616-617; 629-644
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List

April 1
Effluent standards under the Clean Water Act
Text pp. 647-660
Related Web Sites
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List

April 3

Class cancelled



April 4
Water quality standards
Text pp. 660-663; 665-672; 684-686
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List


April 8
Wetlands: Part I
Text pp. 695-697; 616-623; 698-702
Related Web Sites
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List

April 10
Wetlands: Part II
Text pp. 599-604; 608-617;Skim 604-608
Related Web Sites
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List

April 11
Wetlands permitting and "takings" issues
Skim text pp. 731-739; Read 739-751
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List
CALI on "Wetlands" (Do the Wetlands CALI after this class)

April 15
Enforcement of Environmental Laws
Text pp. 937-941; 947-953; 962-963
Related Web Sites
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List

April 17
Enforcement of Environmental Laws (cont.)
Text pp. 998-999; 1005-1014; 1024-1026
Related Web Sites
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List

April 18
Enforcement of Environmental Laws (cont.)
Text pp. 1033-1038; Skim 1026-1031
(Do the Citizen Suit CALI 
after this class)

Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List

April 22
Exam Review and last class


May 7
Final Exam 

Meeting Times and Location 

TRF: 8:30 in Classroom H

Texts

Percival, Miller, Schroeder, and Leape
Environmental Regulation: Law, Science and Policy (5th ed.)

 West's Environmental Statutes (supplement) (suggested, not required - any recent year is o.k.)


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)
Dean's Office
(478) 301-2192
Johnson_s@mercer.edu