Catalog Description

Formerly known as BIOL 13A
Advisory: Completion of BIOL/ESS 14, ESS 1 or ESS 10 with grade of "C" or better
Hours: 18 lecture
Description: Survey of major California environmental regulations and relevant federal regulations. Designed using case study analyses to explore environmental laws applicable to water, land and air resources. (CSU)

Course Student Learning Outcomes

  • CSLO #1: Outline the role of each of the regulatory agencies that enforce environmental policy.
  • CSLO #2: Evaluate the function and effectiveness of the major pieces of Federal and State environmental legislation.
  • CSLO #3: Describe environmental racism and justice and the resulting unequal application of environmental policy.
  • CSLO #4: Evaluate environmental issues needing the greatest attention in the future and propose regulatory solutions to those problems.

Effective Term

Fall 2020

Course Type

Credit - Degree-applicable

Contact Hours

18

Outside of Class Hours

36

Total Student Learning Hours

54

Course Objectives

1. Analyze and evaluate data from a case study - present findings to class;
2. Identify the acronyms for major environmental regulations;
3. Identify the natural resources affected by specific types of chemical releases/spills or physical impacts to the environment;
4. Identify the acronyms for regional, state, and federal regulatory agencies responsible for enforcing environmental laws;
5. Differentiate the environmental laws that apply to specific examples or case studies;
6. Analyze the legislative background of major environmental laws;
7. Categorize the appropriate regulatory agencies responsible for responding to specific types of chemical releases/spills or physical impacts to the environment;
8. Identify appropriate pollution standards or action levels for air and water pollutants.

General Education Information

  • Approved College Associate Degree GE Applicability
    • CSU GE Applicability (Recommended-requires CSU approval)
      • Cal-GETC Applicability (Recommended - Requires External Approval)
        • IGETC Applicability (Recommended-requires CSU/UC approval)

          Articulation Information

          • CSU Transferable

          Methods of Evaluation

          • Essay Examinations
            • Example: Students will read and summarize the important aspects of a case study. To earn full credit, the student must thoroughly, critically and concisely answer the following questions in 1-2 paragraphs (Rubric Grading): A. What environmental regulations apply to this case or project? B. What regulatory agencies are involved in the project? C. What other parties are involved (e.g., who are the "stakeholders")? D. What are the primary concerns regarding the environment? E. How are the environmental concerns/problems being addressed or solved?
          • Projects
            • Example: Students will complete a group project, including paper and presentation. Each group will read a public document (or portion thereof) regarding an environmental case or project (e.g., an Environmental Impact Report). Each group will critically analyze the document and answer questions similar to those for the short reading assignments (see above). Each group will provide a written report of their findings (approx. 5 pages) and give a presentation of their evaluation to the class. In order to effectively answer the required questions, a thorough understanding of the regulations, issues and stakeholders must be demonstrated and critical thinking must be applied.

          Repeatable

          No

          Methods of Instruction

          • Lecture/Discussion
          • Distance Learning

          Lecture:

          1. Instructor will guide students through a Case Study: Residents located downstream from a wastewater treatment plant notice dead fish floating in the creek near their houses. There is also an odor coming from the creek. Instructor will lecture and guide students through web activities in order to determine which environmental laws are applicable and describe and/or draw a diagram showing the possible chemical releases that might be taking place.
          2. Instructor or guest lecturer will conduct a lecture on water quality regulations, differentiating between the Federal and State Clean Water Acts and the Safe Drinking Water Act. Instructor will then provide students with a current events topic that relates to water quality and will facilitate a discussion where students will be challenged to relate the current events to course topics.

          Distance Learning

          1. Following an online lecture on Clean Water Acts, students will conduct an online discussion about the State and Federal Clean Water Acts authority over a case-study.

          Typical Out of Class Assignments

          Reading Assignments

          1. Identify and read a newspaper article regarding environmental regulation and be prepared to discuss in class. 2. Read a local environmental impact report for a proposed development and be prepared to discuss.

          Writing, Problem Solving or Performance

          1. Analyze a local case study and determine the validity of the document as it applies to environmental regulation. 2. Write a letter to a political official regarding validity of the environmental regulation in a local environmental impact report.

          Other (Term projects, research papers, portfolios, etc.)

          Group project: Each group will read a public document (or portion thereof) regarding an environmental case or project (e.g., an Environmental Impact Report). Each group will analyze the document and answer questions similar to those for the short reading assignments. Each group will provide a written report of their findings (approx. 5 pages) and give a presentation of their evaluation to the class. Most of this assignment will be performed outside of class. The groups will be constructed in one of two ways: A. Each group reads the same public document and takes on the role of one of the involved parties ("stakeholders") in its report and presentation. B. Each group reads a different public document and summarizes its evaluation in the report and presentation.

          Required Materials

          • Environmental Regulation: Law, Science, and Policy
            • Author: Schroeder, Christopher H.; Alan S. Miller; James P. Leape; Robert V. Percival
            • Publisher: Wolters Kluwer Law & Business
            • Publication Date: 2013
            • Text Edition: 7th
            • Classic Textbook?:
            • OER Link:
            • OER:
          • Understanding Environmental Policy
            • Author: Steven Cohen
            • Publisher: Columbia University Press
            • Publication Date: 2006
            • Text Edition: 1st
            • Classic Textbook?:
            • OER Link:
            • OER:
          • The New Environmental Regulation
            • Author: Daniel J. Fiorino
            • Publisher: The MIT Press
            • Publication Date: 2006
            • Text Edition: 1st
            • Classic Textbook?:
            • OER Link:
            • OER:
          • Selected Environmental Law Statutes, 2018-2019 Educational Edition
            • Author: Robin Craig
            • Publisher: West Academic Publishing
            • Publication Date: 2018
            • Text Edition:
            • Classic Textbook?:
            • OER Link:
            • OER:

          Other materials and-or supplies required of students that contribute to the cost of the course.