ENTS/Political Science 262, Environmental Policy and Politics

Winter 1999

Professor Norm Vig	Office: Science Annex 116A
Phone: x4120(Office) x5407 (Home)	Email: nvig@carleton.edu
Office Hours: 2:00-4:00 p.m. T, Th

PURPOSE

This course focuses on the development of the environmental movement and of federal environmental law and policies since the 1960s. It is designed both as an intermediate-level public policy course in political science and as an STPP-track course in the ENTS concentration. It emphasizes the governmental institutions, processes, and regulatory policies for controlling pollution (in air, water, and soil), with some attention also to recent controversy over public lands policies and natural resource issues. Students are expected to become familiar with the major environmental statutes and are required to write a 10-12 pp. policy analysis paper on implementation and/or reform of one specific piece of legislation (due March 8). There will also be a mid-term exam and final exam.

REQUIREMENTS

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

TEXTS AND READINGS

The following are required texts (available in bookstore or on closed reserve):

Bullard, Dumping in Dixie

Rosenbaum, Environmental Politics and Policy

Switzer, Green Backlash

Vig & Kraft, Environmental Policy in the 1990s, 3d ed.

These books are on open reserve in the library:

Arbuckle et al., Environmental Law Handbook, 12th ed.

Botkin & Keller, Environmental Science

Schoenbaum & Rosenberg, Environmental Policy Law, 3d ed.

Selected Environmental Law Statutes, 1997-98

READING ASSIGNMENTS FOR CLASS

I. Introduction and Overview

M Jan 4 Introduction to course

W Jan 6 Studying environmental policy: Rosenbaum, chap. 1

F Jan 8 Development of environmental policy: Vig & Kraft [VK], chap. 1

M Jan 11 Environmental politics and policymaking: Rosenbaum, chaps. 2-3

W Jan 13 Federalism and the role of the states: VK, chap. 2

F Jan 15 The environmental movement and public values: VK, chaps. 3-4

II. Political Institutions and Environmental Policymaking

M Jan 18 The environment and the presidency: VK, chap. 5

W Jan 20 Environment and Congress: VK, chap. 6

F Jan 22 The role of the courts: VK, chap. 8

 III. Problems of Regulation

M Jan 25 The Environmental Protection Agency: VK, chap. 7

W Jan 27 Economics and regulation: Rosenbaum, ch. 5; VK, chap. 8

 F Jan 29 The problem of risk assessment: VK, chap. 9

 M Feb 1 Risk assessment and social justice: Rosenbaum, ch. 4

 W Feb 3 The role of business: VK, chap. 12

 F Feb 5 MID-TERM EXAM: all of above

 M Feb 8 MID-TERM BREAK: none of above

 IV. Major Pollution Laws and Policies

 W Feb 10 The Clean Air Act: Rosenbaum, pp. 178-203

 F Feb 12 Air pollution research: visiting speaker

 M Feb 15 The Clean Water Act: Rosenbaum, pp. 203-220

 W Feb 17 Toxic substances and hazardous waste: Rosenbaum, chap. 7

 F Feb 19 The Superfund mess: t.b.a.

 M Feb 22 Toxic waste and racial justice: Bullard, chaps. 1-4

 W Feb 24 The environmental justice movement: Bullard, chaps. 5-7

 F Feb 26 Analysis of environmental justice claims: VK, chap. 11

 V. Public Lands and Natural Resources

 M Mar 1 Natural resource preservation: Rosenbaum, chap. 9

 W Mar 3 Conflicts over public lands and resources: Switzer, Part I

 F Mar 5 The war at the grassroots: Switzer, chaps.7-10 (esp. 8 and 10)

 VI. The Agenda for the Future

M Mar 8 Energy and climate change: Rosenbaum, chaps. 8 & 10

W Mar 10 Regulatory reform: VK, chap. 17; Switzer, Conclusion