ENVIRONMENTAL LAW SYLLABUS

Spring 2009 - 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
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
 
 


May
 
 
 
 
 
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 

January 20
Environmental Philosophies and Values
Text pp. 3-8
Related Web Sites
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List


January 22
Economics and Ecology
Text pp. 26-30; 38-40; 49-52 
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List


January 23
Common law actions
Text pp. 61-63; 67-75
Related Web Sites
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List


January 27
Common law actions
Text pp. 75-87
Related Web Sites
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List


January 29
Public Law
Text pp. 98-107
Related Web Sites
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List

January 30
Regulation and its alternatives
Text pp. 116-121; 126-130; handouts
Related Web Sites
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List


February 3
Regulation and its alternatives (cont.)
Text pp. 130-137; 30-34
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List


February 5
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 6
Basic Principles of Administrative Law
Text pp. 157-164
Skim U.S. v. Mead
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List


February 10
Endangered Species: Part I
Text pp. 868-876; ;Skim pp. 863-868; 898-903
Related Web Sites
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List


February 12
Endangered Species: Part II
Northern Spotted Owl v. Hodel; Text pp. 903 - 906
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List


February 13
Endangered Species: Part II
Text pp. 915-929
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List


February 17
NEPA
Text pp. 795-797; 805-810; 823-830
Related Web Sites
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List


February 19
Judicial Review and Standing
Text pp. 997-998; 977-983
Skim Bennett v. Spear
Related Web Sites
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List


February 20
Standing (cont.)
Text pp. 983-997; Skim Massachusetts v. EPA
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List


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

February 26
Environmental Justice (cont.)
Handouts
Skim text pp. 455-462
Landfill Hypothetical
Related Web Sites
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List


February 27
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


March 3
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


March 5
Identifying Hazardous Waste
Text pp. 341-347; Shell Oil handout
Related Web Sites
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List


March 6
Identifying Hazardous Waste (cont.)
Text pp. 347-356
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List


March 10
Guest Speaker - Professor Peter Appel - 12:00 - Classroom B



March 12
RCRA Subtitle D; Introduction to CERCLA
Text pp. 363-371
Related Web Sites
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List


March 13
Responsible Parties under CERCLA (Owners/Operators)
Text pp. 374-381
Related Web Sites
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List


March 17
Responsible Parties under CERCLA (Former Owners/Operators)
Text pp. 381-384; Nurad v. Hooper
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List


March 19
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 20
Liability under CERCLA
Text pp. 401-411
Related Web Sites
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List


March 24
Liability under CERCLA (cont.)
Text pp. 416-417; 423-430 (up to, but not including, note 6); United States v. Atlantic Research Corp.
CALI on "Superfund Basics" (Do the CALI after this class).
Related Web Sites
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List


March 26
Introduction to the Clean Water Act
Text pp. 592-599; 703-705
Related Web Sites
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List


March 27
Effluent standards under the Clean Water Act
Text pp. 616-617; 629-644
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List


March 31
Class cancelled
 

April 2
Effluent standards under the Clean Water Act
Text pp. 647-660
Related Web Sites
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List


April 3
Water quality standards
Text pp. 660-663; 665-672; 684-686
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List


April 6-10 
Spring Break
No classes



April 14
Wetlands: Part I
Text pp. 695-697; 616-624 (not incl. Miccosukee); 698-702
Related Web Sites
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List


April 16
Wetlands: Part II
Text pp. 599-604; 608-617;Skim 604-608
Related Web Sites
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List


April 17
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 21
Enforcement of Environmental Laws
Text pp. 937-941; 947-953; 962-963
Related Web Sites
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List


April 23
Enforcement of Environmental Laws (cont.)
Text pp. 998-999; 1005-1014; 1024-1026
Related Web Sites
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List

April 24
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 28
The Pollution Prevention Act: A non-regulatory approach
Handouts
Related Web Sites
Discussion list
Multi School Discussion List


April 30
Exam Review and last class


May 12
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