| No. | Date | Topics | Guest Speaker(s) and Reading Panels | Readings | Comments and Reference Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | August 25, 2015 | Introduction to class Foundations of Environmental Law and Economic Approaches |
Percival, et al. (PSML) pp. 1-7, 26-38, 49-53 Hydraulic fracturing example on pp. 58-60 |
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| 2. | August 27, 2015 | Climate change in Texas NOTE: Class will meet at noon in our regular room. |
Guest Lecture: Dr. John-Nielson-Gammon, Climatologist for the State of Texas | No additional readings assigned by Dr. Neilson-Gammon |
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| 3. | Sept. 1, 2015 | Common Law -Private and Public Nuisance | Percival 61-76, 83-89 |
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| 4. | Sept. 3, 2015 |
Common Law - Private and Public Nuisance (interstate torts, preemption and displacement) |
Percival 76-83, 100-111 |
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| 5. | Sept. 8, 2015 | Climate Change Law - Tort Claims and Litigation
Class exercise: advocacy for climate tort claimants |
Climate Change Litigation Powerpoint Comer v. Murphy Oil, pp. 1-8, 13-30, 34-3 |
Bonser-Lain v. TCEQ letter opinion Bonser-Lain v. TCEQ appellate opinion |
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| 6. | Sept. 10, 2015 | a. Overview of Federal Environmental Control: Congress' Commerce Power, Citizens' Standing to Sue, Rulemaking, and Takings b. Rise of the Federal Statutory Framework c. Review of Administrative Law Principles |
a. PSML 111-122, 131-136 b. PSML 89-100 c. PSML 168-190 (skim as refresher from your Statutory Intepretation & Regulatory Practice class) Clean Water Intro PowerPoint |
Friday Power Points on Clean Power Plan and Texas: |
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| 7. | Sept. 15, 2015 | Clean Water Act: Structure of Act; "Waters of the United States" and Jurisdiction Introduce class exercise |
PSML 666-693 Final Rule on Waters of the United States |
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| 8. | Sept. 17, 2015 | Clean Water Act: Definitions of "Point Source", "Discharge" and "Pollutant" Clean Water Act: Water Quality Standards and technology requirements in NPDES permits |
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PSML 694-701, 710-725 |
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| 9. | Sept. 22, 2015 | Clean Water Act: TMDLs, Wetlands Protection | PSML 767-793 PSML 725-747 (skim only; will cover in lecture) Wetlands PowerPoint |
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| 10. | Sept. 24, 2015 | GUEST LECTURE: Professor Peter Van Tuyn on environmental law and climate change issues in Arctic Alaska NOTE: Class will meet at noon in our regular room. |
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| 11. | Sept. 29, 2015 | Clean Air Act: Clean Air Act: Air Pollutants, NAAQS/SIP Program |
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PSML 523-34 (skim), 569-594 Volkswagen PowerPoint |
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| 12. | Oct. 1, 2015 | Clean Air Act: New Source Review/Prevention of Significant Deterioration, Hazardous Air Pollutants |
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| 13. | Oct. 6, 2015 | Clean Air Act: Wrap-up on NSR/PSD and HAPs, Acid Rain, Multi-State Air Quality Issues | PSML 628-656, 303-317 Michigan v. EPA (pp. 1-22 only) |
Air Toxics PowerPoint |
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| 14. | Oct. 8, 2015 | Clean Air Act: Multi-State Air Quality Issues |
PSML 628-656 (refresh) |
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| 15. | Oct. 13, 2015 | Climate Change Law - Regulation Under the Federal and State Laws and Regulations
Class exercise: CWA and CAA permit negotiation (take home) |
PSML 1207-1235, 534-542 Utility Air Regulatory Group v. EPA Intro to Climate Change Law PowerPoint |
Texas reply to EPA's demand for GHG regulations (NOT required reading - solely for your reading pleasure) |
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| 16. | Oct. 15, 2015 | RCRA - Solid Waste, Hazardous Waste, TSDs, Generators and Transporters Introduce class exercise |
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PSML 354-360, 365-384 |
Statutory definitions handout Read the solid waste statutory definition and regulatory definition at 40 CFR 261.2, but skim only the lengthy exemptions from the solid waste definition in 40 CFR 261.4 |
| 17. | Oct. 20, 2015 | RCRA - Solid Waste, Hazardous Waste, TSDs, Generators and Transporters |
Guest lecture: Prof. Linda Hester |
Download the Philern Case Study materials and supplement and review Part I only. Keep them in mind as you prepare to represent your clients in the class RCRA Enforcement Exercise in our next class. |
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| 18. | Oct. 22, 2015 | RCRA - TSDs, Generators and Transporters RCRA Enforcement Exercise |
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Sample Midterm Exam | |
| 19. | Oct. 27, 2015 | CERCLA - the National Contingency Plan, Potentially Responsible Parties, Defenses, Liability and Allocation Introduce class exercise - CERCLA settlement negotiation and strategy |
CERCLA text |
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20. |
Oct. 29, 2015 | CERCLA - the National Contingency Plan, Potentially Responsible Parties, Defenses, Liability and Allocation |
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| 21. | Nov. 3, 2015 |
CERCLA - the National Contingency Plan, Potentially Responsible Parties, Defenses, Liability and Allocation |
PSML 458-484 CERCLA settlement allocation worksheet |
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| 22. | Nov. 5, 2015 | CERCLA Negotiation and Enforcement Exercise |
No reading assignment- everyone prepare to represent your respective clients in class exercise | See reading for class on Oct. 27 No lecture recording for this class. CERCLA Settlement Agreement |
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| 23. | Nov. 10, 2015 | Environmental Justice Overview Endangered Species Act - Listing, Endangerment, Consultation Process Introduce class project on ESA siting and listing dispute |
PSML 984-993, 1009-1017, 1029-1047 Class project: ConocoPhillips LNG Project comments (NEPA and ESA only) |
Environmental Justice PowerPoint
ESA Introduction PowerPoint |
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| 24. | Nov. 12, 2015 | Endangered Species Act - Private Takings |
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PSML 1047-1064 |
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| 25. | Nov. 17, 2015 | CLASS FIELD TRIP: visit to Dynegy's W.A. Parish coal-fired power plant and Petra Nova carbon sequestration project. | The visit will start at 8:30 am and last through 11 am. Petra Nova Site Fact Sheet Petra Nova Technical Fact Sheet West Ranch Fact Sheet Enhanced Oil Recovery Fact Sheet |
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| 26. | Nov. 19, 2015 | National Environmental Policy Act: Major Actions, FONSI, Environmental Impact Statements Final class exercise |
PSML 895-897, 905-918, 932-939, 943-945, 950 n.3-953, 970-973 |
Class comments on Alaska LNG Project | |
| 27. | Nov. 24, 2015 |
Voluntary review session |
Final exam will take place on Dec. 17 from 1:00 to 4:00 pm in TUII Room 144. |
Answers to Email Questions for Finals Review |
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