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1. Explain the rationale for environmental policies to manage, protect and/or restore air, water, soil, wildlife, ecosystems, and human health.
2. Describe major federal and state legislation regarding environmental policy.
3. Develop skills necessary to succesfully communicate with legislators, and government regulators, wildlife and land managers.
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Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:
1. Identify and explain key federal and state laws that implement environmental policy.
2. Describe major federal and state environmental agencies.
3. Explain resource management issues frame policy and how policy frames resource management issues.
4. Communicate with policy makers and implementers on resource management issues and develop written and oral communication skills to discuss issues with legislators, government regulators, wildlife and land managers.
5. Analyze and develop environmental policies to better understand the problems they are intended to remedy and to determine potential benefits, weaknesses and costs.
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I. Introduction to Environmental Policy
A. Purposes
B. Types
C. History
II. Federal and state regulators
A. Identify relevant federal and state agencies
1. US Army Corps of Engineers
2. US Environmental Protection Agency
3. US Fish and Wildlife Service
4. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
5. Natural Resource Conservation Service
6. California department of Fish and Wildlife
7. California Environmental Protection Agency
8 State Air Resources Board
9. State Water Resources Control Board
10. Regional Water Quality Control Board
11. Department of Pesticides Control
12. Coastal Commission
13. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
B. Key environmental policy laws
1. Endangered Species Act (ESA)
2. Clean Water Act
3. Clean Air Act
4. The Farm Bill
5. State Porter Cologne Act
6. Toxic Substance Control Act
7. Wild and Scenic Rivers Act
8. AB 32
9. Williamson Act
10. CEQA/NEPA
11. National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA)
12. Calfornia Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
III. Key Players in environmental policy
A. Non-governmental organizationsNGOs
B. Press
C. Public
D. Economic interests
E. Legislators
F. Courts
G. Stakeholders
IV. Science of Environmental Policy
A. Endangered Species Act listing and recovery processes
B. EIR (Environmental Impact Statement)/EIS (Environmental Impact Report)
C. CEQA/NEPA
V. Water Policy in California
A. History
B. Current
C. Future
VI. Market based Environmental Policy
A. Cap and Trade
B. Taxes, tax credit
C. Government investment
VII Conservation and Preservation Strategies
A. Williamson Act
B. Community Forests
C. Marine refuges and sanctuaries
D. Grant programs
VIII Environmental Compliance
A. Communication Papers
B. Research
IX. Future trends in Environmental Policy
A. Climate change
B. Local issues
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1. 4 Quizzes based on readings and lectures.
2. Average 20 pages of reading per week.
3. Participation in simulated environmental policy bill development.
4. 3-5 written reports; four pages in length.
5. Letter of support or opposition to environmental policy.
6. Attend and report on 1 meeting of California Department of Forest and Fire Protection, Regional Water Quality Control Board, or other agencies as approved by instructor.
7. Final exam.
Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing. | Writing 40 - 50% |
Written reports.
Letter of support or opposition to environmental policy. | |
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills. | Problem Solving 20 - 30% |
Participation in simulated environmental policy bill development. | |
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams. | Skill Demonstrations 0 - 0% |
None | |
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams. | Exams 20 - 30% |
Quizzes and final; multiple choice, true/false, short answer | |
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories. | Other Category 0 - 0% |
None | |
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Nash, Jonathan, R. Essentials of Environmental Law and Policy, Aspen Publshers, New York, 2010 (Classic)
Instructor prepared materials