ENTS/Political Science 262

Environmental Policy and Politics

Spring 2003     Prof. Norm Vig

PURPOSE

This course focuses on the development of the environmental movement and of federal environmental law and policies in the United States since the 1960s.  It is designed both as an intermediate-level public policy course in political science and as a "Society and Policy" course in the ENTS program.  It emphasizes the governmental institutions, processes, and regulatory policies for controlling pollution (in air, water, and soil), public lands policies, and natural resource issues.  Students are expected to become familiar with the major environmental laws and are required to write a 10-12 pp. policy analysis paper on implementation and reform of one specific piece of legislation (due May 30).  All paper topics must approved by the instructor by May 16. There will also be a mid-term exam and final exam (the latter can be self-scheduled).

REQUIREMENTS     

The course will be lecture/discussion format, with class participation expected.  Grading will be weighted as follows:

    Mid-term     30%

    Paper           30%

    Final            30%

    Class participation  10%

TEXTS AND READINGS

The following are required texts (available in bookstore):

   Layzer, The Environmental Case

Rosenbaum, Environmental Politics and Policy, 5^th ed.

   Vig & Kraft, Environmental Policy, 5^th ed.

Several books may also be placed on open reserve in the library.

READING ASSIGNMENTS FOR CLASS

I.  Introduction and Overview

M Mar 31   Introduction to course

W Apr  2    Studying environmental policy                        Rosenbaum, chap. 1;

                                                                                             Layzer, chap. 1

F Apr  4     Development of environmental                      Vig & Kraft [VK], chap. 1

                      Policy: an overview

II.  The Politics of the Environment

M Apr  7  Environmental politics and                                Rosenbaum, chaps. 2-3

                    policymaking                     

W Apr  9  Federalism and the role of the states                  VK, chaps. 2-3

                  and  cities

F  Apr 11  The environmental movement                            VK, chap. 4; and

                    and public opinion                                             Layzer chap. 10

III.  Political Institutions and Environmental Policymaking

M Apr  14  The importance of the President                         VK, chap. 5

W Apr  16  The environment and Congress                          VK, chap. 6

F Apr 18   The role of the courts                                           VK, chap. 7

IV. Regulating Pollution

M Apr 21   The Clean Air and Water Acts                             Layzer, chap. 2                            

W Apr 23   The Clean Air Act                                                Rosenbaum, pp. 178-203

F  Apr  25   The Clean Water Act                                           Rosenbaum, pp. 203-220

M Apr  28  Toxic Wastes and Superfund                                Layzer, chaps. 3, 4

W  Apr 30 Hazardous Waste  regulation                                Rosenbaum, chap. 7

F May 2 Energy policy                                                        Rosenbaum, chap. 8

M  May 5   Mid-term break

W May  7   Mid-term exam                                                     all of above

V.  Public Lands and Natural Resources

F May 9       Development of public land policies               Rosenbaum, chap. 9

M May  12   Grazing and forestry                                        Layzer,  chaps. 6, 7

W May 14   New trends in resource management                VK, chap. 14;

                                                                                               Layzer, chap. 13

F  May 16   Wilderness preservation                                    Layzer, chap. 7

VI. Dilemmas of Regulation and Regulatory Reform

M May 19 The problem of risk assessment                          VK, chap. 9; and

                                                                                               Rosenbaum, chap. 4

W May 21  The economics of regulation                             VK, chap. 8;

                                                                                              Rosenbaum, ch. 5;

F May 23  Market-based solutions                                        Layzer, chap. 11

W  May 26  Sustainable development                                  VK, chaps. 3, 12              

M May 28  Environmental justice                                         VK, chap. 11

F   May 30     Reinventing EPA                                             VK, chap.  8

Term papers due

VII.    Environmental Politics and the Future

M June 2   Global Climate Change                                        Rosenbaum, ch. 10 

W June 4 Toward Sustainable Development?                     VK, chap. 17; Layzer, chap. 14

Final Exam (self-scheduled)                                         all reading since mid-term exam