ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION

GEOGRAPHY 241

SPRING SEMESTER, 2006

Instructor: Dr. Roth

Office and office hours:

133 Cook Hall

M 10:30-11:30, T 2:00-3:00, W 10:30-11:30, Th 2:00-3:00, or by appointment

Telephone: 831-5443/5558; E-mail: rroth@radford.edu

Goals of the course: After satisfactorily completing this course, students should have a basic understanding of -- and be able to communicate with others about -- the major environmental regulatory programs in the U.S. and the policy approaches they rely upon. Students will gain insights into the history, mechanics, and contemporary politics and organization of environmental regulation and the legal landscape within which environmental regulation is created and shaped. Students will also improve their writing and argumentative abilities.

Course Content: This course introduces students to environmental regulation. The focus of the course is on the major federal environmental laws and their implementation, and on the rationales and policy approaches that inform them.  Secondarily, we will review the system for environmental regulation at the state and local levels in Virginia.  Having mastered the basics, we will be in a position to understand the current debates and directions in thinking about environmental protection.

The course will cover the following:

Introduction to environmental law and policy. Justifications and rationales for environmental regulation. Ethical, ecological, and economic perspectives. The nature of environmental problems. Finding environmental laws and regulations. Institutions involved in environmental regulation.

Policy approaches for environmental protection. Command-and-control. Market mechanisms. Disclosure and provision of information. Negotiation and the roundtable approach.

Major federal programs. Air quality and water quality control. Objectives and mechanics of implementation.

More federal programs. Risk analysis and management. Hazardous substances control. Waste management.

Land and biological resources. Endangered species. Forests and rangelands. Land use regulation. Coastal zone management. Surface mining.

Trends, issues, and future directions in environmental protection. Emerging influences and issues in environmental regulation.

Required readings: Readings will be assigned from various sources, including online sources.

Tests, assignments and grading: There will be one inclass midterm and an inclass final exam. Additionally, several short “policy papers” (persuasive position papers of approximately two pages in length requiring careful thought but no research) will be assigned over the course of the semester. Participation will be graded based on attendance rolls (every class) and my impressions of your attentiveness, willingness to contribute to class discussion and occasional debates, and dedication.

Final grades will be computed as follows:

Midterm 25%

Policy briefs 25%

Final 35% (Exam date: 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, May 3)

Participation 15%

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NOTE: "By accepting admission to Radford University, each student makes a commitment to understand, support, and abide by the University Honor Code without compromise or exception. Violations of academic integrity will not be tolerated. This class will be conducted in strict observance of the Honor Code. Refer to your Student Handbook for details."