| No. | Date | Topics | Guest Speaker(s) | Readings | Comments and Reference Materials |
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| 1. | August 22, 2016 | Introduction to class Foundations of Environmental Law and Philosophy |
Percival, et al. (PSML) pp. 1-15, 38-49 Hydraulic fracturing example on pp. 58-60 |
Environmental Law Research Guide U.S. shale oil and gas forecast U.S. energy import/export forecast |
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| 2. | August 24, 2016 | Economics and Environmental Protection |
PSML 26-38, 49-53 |
Suppy and Demand Curves | |
| 3. | Aug. 29, 2016 | Common Law -Private and Public Nuisance | Percival 61-76, 83-89 |
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| 4. | Aug. 31, 2016 |
Common Law - Private and Public Nuisance (interstate torts, preemption and displacement) |
Percival 76-83, 100-111 |
Crye v. Reichhold Chemicals petition Crye v. Reichhold Chemicals (234th Dist. Ct. 1999) (dismissal of Ship Channel nuisance action) |
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| Sept. 5, 2016 | LABOR DAY - NO CLASSES | ||||
| Sept. 7, 2016 | Guest Lecture - Environmental Justice |
Charles Irvine Irvine & Conner LLP; adjunct professor |
PSML 15-26 |
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| 5. | Sept. 12, 2016 | 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. 14, 2016 | 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) |
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| 7. | Sept. 19, 2016 | Clean Water Act: Structure of Act; "Waters of the United States" and Jurisdiction Introduce class exercise |
PSML 666-693 Clean Water Intro PowerPoint Summary of Final Rule on Waters of the United States |
Final Rule on Waters of the United States Stay of WOTUS final rule by 6th Circuit |
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| 8. | Sept. 21, 2016 | 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. 26, 2016 | 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. 28, 2016 | Toxic Substances and Chemicals Regulation Guest lecturer: Christopher Bell, Greenberg Traurig LLP |
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PSML 255-277 TSCA as amended (redline) Corrosion Proof Fittings v. EPA TSCA Preemption Chart TSCA PowerPoint (.pdf) |
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| 11. | Oct. 3, 2016 | Clean Air Act: Clean Air Act: Air Pollutants, NAAQS/SIP Program |
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PSML 523-34 (skim), 569-594 Volkswagen PowerPoint VW settlement |
Plain English Guide to the Clean Air Act Sources of Air Pollution Air map |
| 12. | Oct. 5, 2016 | Clean Air Act: New Source Review/Prevention of Significant Deterioration, Hazardous Air Pollutants |
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| 13. | Oct. 10, 2016 | 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 |
Air Permitting Thresholds Chart Sample Air Permitting Exercise |
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| 14. | Oct. 12, 2016 | Clean Air Act: Multi-State Air Quality Issues |
PSML 628-656 (refresh) |
CSAPR update |
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| 15. | Oct. 14, 2016 | Water Rights, Water Quality, and the Endangered Species Act | SPECIAL CLASS: Friday at noon, BLB 109 | ||
| 16. | Oct. 17, 2016 | Climate Change Law - Regulation Under the Federal and State Laws and Regulations |
PSML 1207-1235, 534-542 Utility Air Regulatory Group v. EPA Introduction to International 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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| 17. | Oct. 19, 2016 | RCRA - Solid Waste, Hazardous Waste, TSDs, Generators and Transporters Introduce class exercise |
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PSML 354-360, 365-384 Sign-up for Energy in Texas event Sign-up for student meeting with Bill Reilly (Oct. 25 at 2:30 pm at the Houstonian) |
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 |
| 18. | Oct. 24, 2016 | RCRA - Solid Waste, Hazardous Waste, TSDs, Generators and Transporters |
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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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| 19. | Oct. 26, 2016 | RCRA - TSDs, Generators and Transporters RCRA Enforcement Exercise |
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HazWaste TSDF PowerPoint |
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| 20. | Oct. 31, 2016 | 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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21. |
Nov. 2, 2016 | CERCLA - the National Contingency Plan, Potentially Responsible Parties, Defenses, Liability and Allocation |
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| --. | Nov. 4, 2016 | CLASS FIELD TRIP: visit to Valero refinery in Manchester. | Valero Refinery Tour Info |
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| 22. | Nov. 7, 2016 |
CERCLA - the National Contingency Plan, Potentially Responsible Parties, Defenses, Liability and Allocation |
PSML 458-484 CERCLA settlement allocation worksheet |
Sample Final Exam Question |
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| 23. | Nov. 9, 2016 | CERCLA Negotiation and Enforcement Exercise |
No reading assignment- everyone prepare to represent your respective clients in class exercise. You will receive your client package via email. | CERCLA Negotiation Session background fact sheet Lecture on CERCLA settlement options. No recording of CERCLA negotiations. |
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| 24. | Nov. 14, 2016 | Endangered Species Act - Listing, Endangerment, Consultation Process Introduce class project on ESA siting and listing dispute |
CERCLA Settlement Agreement PSML 984-993, 1009-1017, 1029-1047 Lecture (partial recording) |
ESA Introduction PowerPoint and .pdf |
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| 25. | Nov. 16, 2016 | Endangered Species Act - Private Takings | GUEST LECTURE: Prof. Linda Hester |
PSML 1047-1064 There is no recording of this lecture. |
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| 25. | Nov. 21, 2016 | National Environmental Policy Act: Major Actions, FONSI, Environmental Impact Statements |
PSML 895-897, 905-918, 932-939, 943-945, 950 n.3-953, 970-973 |
Final Guidance on Consideration of Greenhouse Gas Emissions in NEPA Reviews | |
| 26. | Nov. 28, 2016 | Voluntary review session |
Final exam will take place on Dec. 9 from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm in Room 215 in TU2. |
Answers to Email Questions for Finals Review |
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