Environmental Law Syllabus

Spring 1998 - Professor Johnson

 

Meeting Times and Location
MWF 1:10 Classroom C

Who's the Professor, and How Do I Contact Him?
Professor Stephen Johnson
Room 311
(912) 301-2192
Johnson_s@mercer.edu

Text
Percival, Miller, Schroeder, and Leape
Environmental Regulation: Law, Science and Policy(2d ed.)
West's Environmental Statutes (supplement)

Attendance Policy

Attendance: 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: Preparation is mandatory. Class participation will be considered in grading.

Class Assignments
I. Introduction to Environmental Theories and Philosophies
 

Jan. 14: Environmental Philosophies and Values:

Jan. 16: Economics and Ecology: Jan. 19: Martin Luther King Holiday - No classes

Jan. 21: University Founders' Day - Class cancelled
 

II. Introduction to Environmental Law

Jan. 23/26: Common law actions:

Jan. 28: Public Law:
The Role of Government Regulation in Environmental Law

Jan. 30: Regulation and its alternatives:

Feb. 2: Regulation and its alternatives (cont.): Feb. 4/6: Basic Principles of Administrative Law: Feb. 9/11: NEPA; Judicial Review and Standing to bring environmental lawsuits:
IV. Environmental Jusice

Feb. 13/16: Environmental Justice and solid waste management

V. Waste Management and Pollution Prevention

Feb. 18: Introduction to RCRA:

Feb. 20: Guest speaker - Robert Kuehn - Director, Tulane Environmental Law Clinic

Feb. 23: The definition of solid waste under RCRA:

Feb. 25: Identifying Hazardous Waste: March 2: Identifying Hazardous Waste (cont.): March 4: RCRA Subtitle D; Introduction to CERCLA: March 6: Responsible Parties under CERCLA (Owners/Operators): March 9: Responsible Parties under CERCLA (Former Owners/Operators): March 11: Responsible Parties under CERCLA and response costs: March 13: Liability under CERCLA: March 16/18: Liability under CERCLA (cont.): March 20: The Pollution Prevention Act: A non-regulatory approach:
VI. The Clean Water Act, Wetlands, and Enforcement of Environmental Laws

March 23: Introduction to the Clean Water Act:

March 25/27: Effluent standards under the Clean Water Act: April 6: Water quality standards: April 8: Wetlands: Part I: April 10: Good Friday - University Holiday

April 13/17: Wetlands permitting and "takings" issues:

April 20: Enforcement of Environmental Laws: April 22: Enforcement of Environmental Laws (cont.):
VII. Endangered Species Act

April 24: Endangered Species: Part I

April 27: Endangered Species: Part II April 29: Exam Review

NOTE: In addition to the assignments above, all students must attend a one and one-half hour class on environmental law research that will be presented by the Law Library. Times and locations will be announced later in the semester.