Assignment #1: Introduction to Environmental Laws

 

Environmental Law

DUE DATE: Friday March 2, 2012

Lesson 1 - Introduction to Environmental Laws


OBJECTIVES

  1. •Find out how environmental laws are created and enforced in the U.S.

  2. •Find out what the EPA is and does

  3. •Investigate the major types of environmental laws in the U.S. and their approaches

  4. •Evaluate the effectiveness of the EPA and various laws it enforces

  5. •Research the provisions of landmark environmental laws such as the Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act, Superfund and others.

 

The Course Overview

Environmental Law (ELaw) is the study of how laws and legislation are used to protect natural areas, wildlife and resources. It is also the study of the environmental issues that inform these laws and make them relevant to citizens.

For our purposes, ELaw assignments will usually focus on a current environmental issue and the effects of corresponding laws on citizens, industry and wildlife. Some assignments will take a stand on the issue posed. Always, I welcome opposing viewpoints and assignments will strive to help students achieve a balanced understanding of environmental laws and issues.

This week's issue
Environmental laws define what is reasonable environmental behavior for individuals and groups, according to the larger community. Environmental laws also attempt to balance competing social and private interests. They can take several forms, including statutory laws (those passed by state and federal legislatures), administrative laws (rules and regulations, executive orders) and common laws (unwritten customs). (Living in the Environment, by G. Tyler Miller, Jr.)

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is a regulatory agency headed by the executive branch (overseen by the President of the U.S.) of the federal government. Its stated mission is “to protect human health and to safeguard the natural environment— air, water, and land — upon which life depends."

"For 30 years, EPA has been working for a cleaner, healthier environment for the American people,” contends its website homepage. Some environmentalists, however, criticize the EPA for not doing enough to address widespread environmental problems and for creating others through mismanagement and/or bias that favors industry over the environment.

In this first assignment, you will consider key environmental laws enforced by the EPA and evaluate its mission and effectiveness.

This Week's Assignment

Find out about the following environmental laws:

  1. •The Clean Air Act

  2. •The Clean Water Act

  3. •National Environmental Policy Act

  4. •Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and
    Liability Act (CERCLA or Superfund)

  5. •The Safe Drinking Water Act

  6. •Others!

Evaluate

  1. •The goals, approaches and effectiveness of these laws and their enforcement.


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DUE DATE: Friday March 2, 2012
TO: Environmental Law Students
FROM: Helen Haberman, Instructor
SUBJECT: The EPA & Environmental Laws

Assignment (40 points)

Your task this week is to research six (6) of the major environmental laws managed by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and to evaluate the approaches used by the government to enforce environmental laws in general.

You will not need to write this week's assignment up in an essay format. Simply listing the laws and information is adequate.

Everyone will research the following four (4): NEPA, CAA, CWA, & CERCLA  (also known as Superfund).

In addition to these, pick two (2) others from the list on the website to complete your research.

Guiding Questions

Provide the following information as you research each. Use the links or resources listed in each bullet.

  1. •Read an introduction to environmental laws in your textbook found in Chapter 27-4: Environmental Law (pp. 616-618) Evaluate the pros and cons of the five approaches for federal environmental laws. Which approach do you think is best? Why?

  2. •What is the EPA and its mission?

  3. •How are environmental laws and the Environmental Protection Agency connected?

  4. •Provide a brief overview/paragraph of six laws including these four (CAA, CWA, NEPA, CERCLA) and two (2) more of your choosing by providing the following information.
    1. What is each law’s purpose?
    2. How is each law enforced?
    3. How long has each of the laws you researched been in effect?
    4. What problems do you think might complicate the effectiveness of each law?


Evaluation

Your assignment will be evaluated on the following criteria:

  1. •Complete answers to questions/ research of six (6) environmental laws

  2. •Absence of grammar or spelling errors

  3. •Works cited page included

Help

If you have questions about this assignment, send them to haberman@4j.lane.edu.


 

End of Assignment