Syllabus

Environmental Law, Policy, and Decision-making

Syllabus Spring 2021 (EESC BC3040)

Picture
The ceiling tondo Justice by Raffaelo Sanzio in the Stanza della Segnatura in the Vatican Palace. Iustitia, the Roman goddess of justice, is seated with her symbols of the law, the scales of justice that weigh the evidence pro and con and the sword of righteous enforcement. She wears no blindfold in this depiction. The Stanza della Segnatura (or room of the tribunal) takes its name from the highest court of the Holy See that used to meet in this room in the mid-16th century after the frescoes were painted in 1508-1511. (Photo P. Bower)
#1-Jan. 12







​#2-Jan 14
Introduction to the Course; The Importance of Studying Law for the Undergraduate;
Historical Origins and Nature of the U.S. Legal System.
Readings pages
           ⇒ Bower/Neacsu: pp 1-53
Introduction to U.S. Law, Policy and Research – An Environmental Perspective -“Introduction”, “Chapter 1 - Historical Origins and Nature of the U.S. Legal System” - “Chapter 2 - The Structure and Function of the U.S. Legal System and Its Lawmaking Institutions”

Law as Multifaceted Normativity. The Structure and Function of the U.S. Legal
System and Its Law-Making Institutions
Readings pages
           ⇒  Bower/Neacsu: pp 53-82
Chapter 3 – Thinking about Law as an Object of Research – Basic Principles of Legal  Research”
“Chapter 4 – Applying the Principles of Legal Research - Using Secondary Sources”
 
In-class Quiz #1: Law as Multifaceted Normativity (part I), pages 82-83
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​#8-Feb. 4
 Continue discussion of A Civil Action in preparation for the MidtermBasic Principles of Legal Research
Readings pages
           ​ ⇒ Bower/Neacsu: pp 54-96
“Chapter 3 – Thinking about Law as an Object of Research – Basic Principles of Legal Research”
“Chapter 4 – Applying the Principles of Legal Research - Using Secondary Sources”
“Chapter 5 – Using Primary Sources”
In-class Quiz #2: Law as Multifaceted Normativity (part II), pages 96-100
Begin discussion of A Civil Action in preparation for the Midterm
Readings pages
            ⇒ Jonathan Harr – Civil Action pp. 1-50

​Applying the Principles of Legal Research to Environmental Law Research
 Continue discussion of A Civil Action in preparation for the Midterm         
Readings pages
           ⇒ Bower/Neacsu: pp 134-142 “Chapter 7”
           ​⇒ Jonathan Harr – Civil Action pp. 51-82
Introduction to U.S. Law, Policy and Research – An Environmental Perspective - “Chapter 7 – Learning to Write a Brief: Whalen v. The Union Bag and Paper Co.”

​Briefing a Case:  Whalen v. The Union Bag and Paper Co                                                     
Continue discussion of A Civil Action in preparation for the Midterm
 Readings pages
           ⇒ Bower/Neacsu: pp 101-133 “Chapter 6”
           ​⇒ Jonathan Harr – Civil Action pp. 51-82
Introduction to U.S. Law, Policy and Research – An Environmental Perspective -“Chapter 6: Learning to Read a Case: Environmental Torts and the Boomer Decision”
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Briefing a Case:  Boomer v. Atlantic Cement Co.
 Continue discussion of A Civil Action in preparation for the Midterm
Readings pages
          ​⇒ Jonathan Harr – Civil Action pp. 51-82
Exercise #1 = writing a brief – due February 11
Boomer v. Atlantic Cement Co.
A. Procedure and the Litigation Process
B. Remedies: Equity, Injunctions, and Damages in Boomer
C. Private Nuisance and Intentional Tort 
D. Facts, Issues, Rule, Application to the Facts

Boomer v. Atlantic Cement Co. (continued) 
​Continue discussion of A Civil Action in preparation for the Midterm
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#14-Feb. 25
The making of Environmental law: Wilsonville v. SCA Services, 86 Ill.2d 1, 426 N.E.2d, 824 Ill. (1981)   
Continue discussion of A Civil Action in preparation for the Midterm
Readings pages
           ⇒ Bower/Neacsu: pp 143-182 Read the relevant section in Introduction to U.S. Law, Policy and Research – An Environmental Perspective - “Chapter 8 – Case Studies (I) in Common Law Environmental Torts”
          ​⇒ Jonathan Harr – Civil Action pp. 51-82
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The making of Environmental law: Environmental cases - Spur Industries, Inc. v. Del Webb Development Co., 108 Ariz. 178, 494 P.2d 700 (1972)
A. Externalities: An Economic Analysis of the Commons
B. Cost-Benefit Analysis, Uncertainty, and Risk
C. Facts, Issues, Rule, Application to the Facts
Readings pages
           ⇒ Bower/Neacsu: pp 182-197Read the relevant section in Introduction to U.S. Law, Policy and Research – An Environmental Perspective - “Chapter 8 – Case Studies (II) in Common Law Environmental Torts”
          ​⇒ Jonathan Harr – Civil Action pp. 83-119
Exercise #1 = writing a brief – due today (Whalen and Boomer)

Exercise #2: Briefing a precedential case (Wilsonville or Del Webb) and its
subsequent application (a case chosen by Shepardizing Wilsonville or Del Webb)
Readings pages
         ⇒ Jonathan Harr – Civil Action pp. 123-193
                                   Due February 23
​Exercise #2: Legal Research: Briefing a precedential case and its subsequent application
The exercise requires you to create a word document which should include a cover page with the title, Exercise #2: Legal Research: Briefing a precedential case and its subsequent application, your name, date, course, and professor’s name. The document will also contain the following sections:

  1. Section 1: Choose a case – either Wilsonville or Del Webb; copy and paste its heading in Section 1.
  2. Section 2: Brief your case (either Wilsonville or Del Webb) using the format provided to you and discussed in class, focusing on the issue which becomes the rule or the precedent for the subsequent case you will brief.
  3. Section 3: Choose a subsequent case from the Shepard’s list; copy and paste its heading in Section 3.
  4. Section 4: Brief the case chosen in Section 3, pointing out how it references the case chosen in Section 1 (Wilsonville or Del Webb).

​The making of Environmental law: Borland v. Sanders Lead Co., 369 So.2d 523 (1979)            
Continue discussion of A Civil Action in preparation for the Midterm
Readings pages
          ⇒ Bower/Neacsu: pp 197-215Read the relevant section in Introduction to U.S. Law, Policy and Research – An Environmental Perspective - “Chapter 8 – Case Studies (III) in Common Law Environmental Torts”
         ⇒ Jonathan Harr – Civil Action pp. 195-290

The making of Environmental law: Branch v. Western Petroleum, Inc., 657 P.2d 267 (1982)     
Readings pages
           ⇒ Bower/Neacsu: pp 216-238 - “Chapter 8 – Case Studies (IV) in Common Law Environmental Torts”
          ​⇒ Jonathan Harr – Civil Action pp. 291-402
                                       Exercise #2 due

The Making of Environmental law – Mid-term review.  Jonathan Harr – Civil Action: Lessons of Woburn ⇒ Anderson v. W.R. Grace & Co., Beatrice Foods Co., et al. 628 F.Supp. 1219 (1986)
         ​⇒ Jonathan Harr – Civil Action pp. 403-495
Crafting an Internal Office Memo:  Begin Midterm during class time due March 1st at 11:59pm. Open Book, Internet, Notes, etc.




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#16-March 11
 Spring Break March 1-5 – No Classes
March 9th is first day back from break and I will begin a discussion of Rule of Five. Please start reading Rule of Five  by Richard Lazarus during the break.

Introducing Endangered Species Act (ESA) – A Congressional Success Story
Readings pages
          ⇒ Bower/Neacsu: pp. 244-251:  “Chapter 10: The Endangered Species Act of 1973”
         ​⇒ Richard Lazarus – Rule of Five pp. 1-25

Early Supreme Court Jurisprudence Regarding Environmental Law – Overton Park v. Volpe, 401 U.S. 402, 91 S.Ct. 814 (1971) and Tennessee Valley Authority v. Hiram Hill, 437 U.S. 153, 98 S. Ct. 2279 (1978)
 Readings pages
           ⇒ Bower/Neacsu: pp. 252-263 “Chapter 10: Case Law Defines the Meaning of the ESA”
          ⇒ Richard Lazarus – Rule of Five pp. 26-53
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​#18-March 18
 Environmental law in action: 
Readings pages
           ⇒ Bower/Neacsu: pp. everything covered so far.
            ⇒ Richard Lazarus – Rule of Five pp. 54-78
In class Quiz # 3:
  1. Write your name and Quiz #3 as title heading.
  2. Choose a case, and indicate the heading of the case below your name. Choose either Overton Park, Scenic Hudson, or Tennessee Valley Authority, and write down its citation, including (the year of its decision.)
  3. Locate a statutory provision in your chosen case. Write it down #USC #.
  4. Then, locate  that particular statutory issue discussed in your chosen case (whether a particular statutory provision applies and why), and write down the legal issue the court addressed about that provision (Did the court apply # USC # etc?)
  5.  Find the court’s holding regarding the issue in 4, and write it down (Answer: Yes, the court .... # USC #).
  6. Write down the court’s judicial interpretation (rationale) for the issue in 4. You may use quotes.
  7. Support or criticize the court’s rationale behind their holding regarding the chosen statutory provision from  3 and the connected issue you spotted in 4, in 500 words or less.
Environmental law in action:  A Rare Bird and Critical Habitat Palila v. Hawaii, 649 F.Supp. 1070 (1986) and Grizzly Bears and the Listing Process, Carlton v. Babbitt, 900 F. Supp. 526 (D.D.C,  1995)              
Readings pages
            ⇒ Bower/Neacsu pp. 263-277, 278-288 “Chapter 10: Case Law Defines ESA”
           ​⇒ Richard Lazarus – Rule of Five pp. 79-87
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​#20-March 25
Regulatory Public Law: The Evolution of Environmental Statutes     
and Legal Research: Statutes, CFRs, Citators and Final Research Paper: How Case                       Law Defines a Statute
Final Research Paper: How Case Law Defines Statutory Law Due on April 15th
(Review the requirements for the Final Research Paper)
Readings pages
             ⇒ Bower/Neacsu, pp. 362-371 “Chapter 12: Environmental Law Research”
            ⇒ Richard Lazarus – Rule of Five pp. 88-96
(You must turn in your chosen statute and case for the Environmental Law Research Paper on or before April 1)

Environmental law in action: The Florida Panther and Enforcement by the Federal Government U.S. v. Billie, 667 F.Supp. 1485 (1987). Reviewing TVA v. Hill, Overton Park v. Volpe, Pallila, U.S. v. Billie, Carlton v. Babbit. Thoughts for the future.  
Readings pages
              ​⇒Bower/Neacsu pp. 288-296,  372-386, “Chapter 10” and “Chapter 13: The Role of Env. Law in Protecting the Environment”
             ⇒ Richard Lazarus – Rule of Five pp. 97-106
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#26-April 15
 Litigating Other Environmental Statutes: The Clean Air Act in Massachusetts v. EPA, 549 U.S. 497 (2007) - Lessons about Persuasive legal writing
Readings pages
             ⇒Bower/Neacsu: pp. 239-243; 354-361
Introduction to U.S. Law, Policy and Research – An Environmental Perspective - “Chapter 11: Environmental Statutes and the Modern Environmental Movement”
A. Facts, Issues, Rule, Application to the Facts
             ⇒Richard Lazarus – Rule of Five pp. 107-153

Litigating Other Environmental Statutes: The Clean Air Act in Massachusetts v. EPA, 549 U.S. 497 (2007) (continued) - Lessons about the role of federal agencies
Readings pages
              ⇒Richard Lazarus – Rule of Five pp. 154-238

Litigating Other Environmental Statutes: The Clean Air Act in Massachusetts v. EPA 549 U.S. 497 (2007) (continued) - Lessons about Successful Litigation
Readings pages
               ⇒Richard Lazarus – Rule of Five pp. 239-294
(FINAL DAY to turn in your chosen statute and case for the Environmental Law Research Paper on or before April 15)
Student Oral Argument Presentations
Student Oral Argument Presentation
Wrapping Up. Environmental law in action:  Guest Presentation
                                   
Research Paper Due on April 15th
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