CASE STUDIES IN ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS
ESC518, Section 1, TTh 4:30-5:45 pm, Fall 2009
Room 207 Holt Hall
Assignments
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Instructor: John Tucker
Office Hours: T
11:00-11:50, Th 8:00-8:30, and by advance appointment.
Office Location: Holt 215, Biological &
Environmental Sciences Department, UTC
Telephone: 425-4341; Email: John-Tucker@utc.edu
Course Description
In depth study of the application of
environmental law and policy to specific environmental problems using the case
study method. Course will focus on four factors in each case study: 1)
characterize the environment, 2) identify human modification to the
environment, 3) examine law and policy responses to modification of the
environment, and 4) critique the responses. The course requires
substantial in-class participation and some internet research. Students
are presumed to already have a general knowledge of the principal environmental
laws in the United States.
Course
Requirements and Grading
All students are expected to attend class and should be prepared to discuss
assigned readings and other matters in class. Your grade will be based
upon 1) three examinations, 2) a case study, and 3) class participation.
1) Exams: 70 percent of your grade will be based upon your exam
scores. The two exams taken during the semester each count 20 percent of
your final grade, and the final exam counts 30 percent. Approximately
1/4-1/3 of each exam will test your knowledge of the ecosystem characteristics,
human impacts, and key law and policy issues pertaining to the case studies
covered in class, and will take the form of multiple choice or short
answer. The remainder of each exam (2/3-3/4 of the exam) will be written
essay, where you will apply the concepts learned from the case studies to a
hypothetical scenario.
2) Case Studies: 20 percent of your grade will be based on a case study.
The class will develop a case study of an environmental law or policy topic
assigned by the instructor. The class will present the case study during
class at the end of the semester. Each student must make a meaningful
contribution to the case study, both in its preparation and its presentation.
Your grade will be based on both your individual contribution (10%) and
the overall presentation of the case study (10%).
3) Class Participation: 10 percent of your grade is based on class
participation. A substantial portion of this class involves oral analysis of
cases and the policy aspects of environmental laws. You are expected to
participate in class discussions and respond to questions from the instructor.
Grades are straight percentage: 90% to 100% = A, 80% to 89% = B,
70% to 79% = C, 60% to 69% = D, below 60% = F.
Materials
1. Many of the materials for this class are posted on
the course BlackBoard site.
2. The instructor may also assign additional
readings from materials on reserve in the library or handouts provided by the
instructor.
Other Assignments
There will be homework assignments and in-class exercises.
Cell Phones & Other Electronic Equipment
Turn off your cell phone or other electronic equipment
before you enter class. Sending or
receiving text messages or calls is distracting and will not be tolerated. You may use a laptop computer to take
notes during class.
Honor Code
The Honor Code is based upon the
assumption that the student recognizes the fundamental importance of honesty in
all dealings within the University community and that education is a
cooperative enterprise between student and teacher and between student and
student. Any act of dishonesty violates and weakens this relationship and
lessens the value of the education which the student is pursuing.
Honor Code Pledge: I pledge that I will
neither give nor receive unauthorized aid on any test or assignment. I
understand that plagiarism constitutes a serious instance of unauthorized aid. I further
pledge that I will exert every effort to insure that the Honor Code is upheld
by others and that I will actively support the establishment and continuance of
a campus-wide climate of honor and integrity.
Attention: If you are a student with a disability (e.g. physical, learning,
psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.) and think that you might need special
assistance or a special accommodation in this class or any other class, call
the Office for Students with Disabilities/College Access Program at 425-4006 or
come by the office - 110 Frist Hall.
CASE STUDIES IN ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS
COURSE
OUTLINE
Introduction
Course Overview
Tools for environmental protection
Sources of Law
U.S. Institutions and Authority
Water
Pollution and Management
Case Study 1: Intrastate Natural
System - The Everglades
Case Study 2: International Natural System - Pantanal and Hidrovia
Case Study 3: Interstate Natural System - Apalachicola/Flint/Chatahootchee System
Native Peoples
Case Study 4: Cherokee Nation
Biodiversity
Conservation
Case Study 5: Commercial Fish and
Shrimp Harvests and the Issue of By-Catch in the Southeast
Case Study 6: Cherokee National Forest
Natural
System Conservation
Case Study 7: Riparian Habitat Protection – The Wekiva/Econlockhatchee/Tomoka Rivers
Case Study 8: New Jersey Pinelands (Graduate Students)
Air
Pollution
Case Study 9: Climate Change & Carbon (Graduate Students)
CASE STUDIES IN ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS
ESC518, Section 1, TTh 4:30-5:45 pm, Fall 2009
Room 207 Holt Hall
DRAFT
SCHEDULE (readings will be updated and expanded)
|
8/18 |
Introduction & Background |
|
8/20 |
Background |
|
8/25 |
Case Study 1: Intrastate
Natural System - The Everglades General Background Everglades National
Park Web Site Moving
Toward Restoration South Florida
Ecosystem Restoration Task Force South
Miami-Dade Watershed Plan Advisory Committee Overview of
the Plan |
|
8/27 |
Case Study 1: Intrastate Natural System - The Everglades |
|
9/1 |
Case Study 1: Intrastate Natural System - The Everglades |
|
9/3 |
Case Study 1: Intrastate Natural System - The Everglades |
|
9/8 |
Case Study 2: International Natural System - Pantanal and Hidrovia Comparative
Analysis of the Florida Everglades and the South American Pantanal |
|
9/10 |
Case Study 2: International Natural System - Pantanal and Hidrovia |
|
9/15 |
Case Study 3: Interstate Natural System - Apalachicola/Flint/Chattahoochee System & the Tennessee River USGS ACF
website Policy
Options General
Requirements |
|
9/17 |
Case Study 3: ACF and the Tennessee River |
|
9/22 |
Case Study 3: ACF and the Tennessee River |
|
9/24 |
Exam I |
|
9/29 |
Case Study 4: Cherokee Nation Indian Law and Policy (Read Handout) Overview Cherokee Nation General Websites Cherokee Nation
Official Site History Cherokee Nation Site Culture Removal Government Structure Current Law and Policy Issues Government Rights, Authority, and Conflicts -
Tribal, Federal, State |
|
10/1 |
Case Study 4: Cherokee Nation |
|
10/6 |
Case Study 4: Cherokee Nation |
|
10/8 |
Case Study 5: Commercial Fish and Shrimp Harvests and the Issue of By-Catch in the Southeast Fishery Conservation and
Management Act Organized Fishermen of
Florida v. Marine Fisheries Commission |
|
10/13 |
Case Study 5: Commercial Fish and Shrimp Harvests and the Issue of By-Catch in the Southeast |
|
10/15 |
Case Study 6: Cherokee National Forest |
|
10/19 |
FALL BREAK HOLIDAY |
|
10/22 |
Case Study 6: Cherokee National Forest Background Powerpoint – Public Lands, MUSY, NFMA, ESA, NEPA, National Forests and diversity •Cherokee Planning Website – explore the site –Chapter 1 read all –Chapter 2 – parts relating to Ruth’s golden aster •Introduction (p. 21), Terrestrial Wildlife and Threatened, Endangered, and Sensitive Species Habitat (p. 28), Goal 13 (p. 30), Objective 14.03 (p. 30), Table 2-3 Management Objective for Ruth’s golden aster (p. 31), Objective 15.02 (p. 34), Standard FW-28 (p. 34). |
|
10/27 |
Case Study 6: Cherokee National Forest |
|
10/29 |
Exam II |
|
11/3 |
Case Study 7: Riparian Habitat Protection – The Wekiva/Econlockhatchee/Tomoka Rivers Wekiva
River |
|
11/5 |
Case Study 7: Riparian Habitat Protection – The Wekiva/Econlockhatchee/Tomoka Rivers |
|
11/10 |
Case Study 7: Riparian Habitat Protection – The Wekiva/Econlockhatchee/Tomoka Rivers |
|
11/12 |
Case Study 8: New Jersey Pinelands (Graduate Students) |
|
11/17 |
Case Study 8: New Jersey Pinelands (Graduate Students) |
|
11/19 |
Case Study 9: Climate Change & Carbon (Graduate Students) |
|
11/24 |
Case Study9: Climate Change & Carbon (Graduate Students) |
|
11/26 |
THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY |
|
12/3 |
FINAL EXAM - 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. |
This schedule may be adjusted depending upon the progress of the class and student needs.