| No. | Date | Topics | Guest Speaker(s) | Readings | Comments and Reference Materials |
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| 1. | August 20, 2018 | Introduction to class Foundations of Environmental Law and Philosophy |
Percival, et al. (PSML) pp. 1-17, 41-52 Hydraulic fracturing example on pp. 62-64 |
Environmental Law Research Guide U.S. shale oil and gas forecast U.S. energy import/export forecast |
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| 2. | Aug. 22, 2018 | Economics and Environmental Protection |
PSML 29-41, 52-58 |
Suppy and Demand Curves | |
| 3. | Aug. 27, 2018 | Common Law -Private and Public Nuisance | PSML 65-80, 87-93 |
Damaged Landscape from Ducktown Copper Smelter Emissions Nuisance Exercise: Yellow Team |
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| 4. | Aug. 29, 2018 |
Common Law - Private and Public Nuisance (interstate torts, preemption and displacement) |
PSML 80-87, 104-116 |
Crye v. Reichhold Chemicals petition Crye v. Reichhold Chemicals (234th Dist. Ct. 1999) (dismissal of Ship Channel nuisance action) |
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| Sept. 3, 2018 | LABOR DAY - NO CLASSES | ||||
| 5. | Sept. 5, 2018 | Class exercise: advocacy for climate tort claimants Climate Change Law - Tort Claims and Litigation |
Climate Tort Discussion Problem Climate Change Litigation Powerpoint (.pdf) 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, 2018 | 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 116-127, 137-142 b. PSML 93-104 c. PSML 174-198 (skim as refresher from your Statutory Intepretation & Regulatory Practice class) |
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| 7. | Sept. 12, 2018 | Clean Water Act: Structure of Act; "Waters of the United States" and Jurisdiction Introduce class exercise |
PSML 667-696 Clean Water Intro PowerPoint (.pdf) 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. 17, 2018 | 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 696-704, 714-729 |
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| 9. | Sept. 19, 2018 | Clean Water Act: TMDLs, Wetlands Protection | PSML 772-801 PSML 729-751 (skim only; will cover in lecture) Wetlands PowerPoint(.pdf) |
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| 10. | Sept. 24, 2018 | Clean Air Act: Clean Air Act: Air Pollutants, NAAQS/SIP Program |
PSML 521-32 (skim), 571-595 |
Plain English Guide to the Clean Air Act Sources of Air Pollution Air map |
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| 11. | Sept. 26, 2018 | Clean Air Act: New Source Review/Prevention of Significant Deterioration, Hazardous Air Pollutants |
State of Texas v EPA complaint (Sept. 24, 2018) |
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| Sept. 27, 2018 (Thursday) |
OPTIONAL SITE VISIT: CES Environmental Services Superfund Site, with Robin Morse
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Information on CES Environmental Services Site removal action: fact sheet and status website. |
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| 12. | Oct. 1, 2018 | Clean Air Act: Wrap-up on NSR/PSD and HAPs, Acid Rain, Multi-State Air Quality Issues | PSML 630-640, 309 n.6-315 Michigan v. EPA (pp. 1-22 only) Air Toxics PowerPoint (.pdf) Lecture (audio) |
Air Permitting Thresholds Chart Sample Air Permitting Exercise |
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| 13. | Oct. 3, 2018 | GUEST LECTURE: former U.S. Rep. Bob Ingliss, at the UH Hilton, 6 pm. |
GUEST LECTURE: former U.S. Rep. Bob Ingliss on carbon taxation as a conservative strategy to control climate change. |
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| 14. | Oct. 8, 2018 | Climate Change Law - Regulation Under the Federal and State Laws and Regulations |
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PSML 1244-1250, 530-556 Lecture (audio) |
Texas reply to EPA's demand for GHG regulations (NOT required reading - solely for your reading pleasure) |
| 15. | Oct. 10, 2018 | Clean Air Act: Multi-State Air Quality Issues |
Guest lecturer: Jed Anderson, AL Law Group | PSML 640-655 (refresh) |
CSAPR update |
| Oct. 12, 2018 |
VOLUNTARY FIELD TRIP: Kayak tour of wetlands in Christmas Bay with Prof. Jim Blackburn
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RESCHEDULED to Spring 2019 | |||
| 16. | Oct. 15, 2018 | RCRA - Solid Waste, Hazardous Waste, TSDs, Generators and Transporters Introduce class exercise |
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PSML 345-356, 361-380 Lecture (audio) |
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. 17, 2016 | RCRA - Solid Waste, Hazardous Waste, TSDs, Generators and Transporters |
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Definition of Solid Waste review chart HazWaste TSDF PowerPoint (.pdf) 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, 2018 | RCRA and Environmental Enforcement RCRA Enforcement Exercise |
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Because this class is a participatory simulation of an enforcement action, that portion of the class will not be recorded. |
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| 19. | Oct. 24, 2018 | Toxic Substances and Chemicals Regulation |
Guest lecturer: Christopher Bell, Greenberg Traurig LLP | TSCA as amended (redline) Corrosion Proof Fittings v. EPA TSCA Preemption Chart TSCA PowerPoint (.pdf) |
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| 20. | Oct. 29, 2018 | CERCLA - the National Contingency Plan, Potentially Responsible Parties, Defenses, Liability and Allocation Introduce class exercise - CERCLA settlement negotiation and strategy |
CERCLA text |
CERCLA sites in Harris County Sample CERCLA cost recovery complaint |
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21. |
Oct. 31, 2018 | CERCLA - the National Contingency Plan, Potentially Responsible Parties, Defenses, Liability and Allocation |
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| 22. | Nov. 5, 2018 |
CERCLA - the National Contingency Plan, Potentially Responsible Parties, Defenses, Liability and Allocation |
PSML 458-484 CERCLA settlement allocation worksheet |
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| 23. | Nov. 7, 2018 | 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. CERCLA Listing Process flowchart |
PRP Contact Sheet |
| 24. | Nov. 12, 2018 | Endangered Species Act - Listing, Endangerment, Consultation Process |
Sign-up sheet for Valero Refinery tour PSML 999-1013, 1029-1058 ESA Introduction PowerPoint (.pdf) Lecture (only partial audio due to technical difficulties - 2) |
Sign-up sheet for Texas State Bar environmental jobs panel Proposed revisions to ESA listing process (July 25, 2018) Proposed revisions to Threatened Species Protection Under Section 4d (July 25, 2018) Proposed revisions to Interagency Consultation Under Section 7 (July 25, 2018) |
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| 25. | Nov. 14, 2018 | Endangered Species Act - Private Takings |
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PSML 1058-1083 |
Where Jaguars are "Killed to Order" for Illegal Trade (National Geographic, 9/23/18) ESA Section 4 refresher |
| Nov. 16, 2018 |
VOLUNTARY SITE VISIT: Valero Refinery in Manchester neighborhood, Houston, TX.
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Logistics for refinery visit | |||
| 25. | Nov. 19, 2018 | National Environmental Policy Act: Major Actions, FONSI, Environmental Impact Statements |
PSML 911-914, 921-934, 948-955, 962-970, 977-78, 986-992 |
Final Guidance on Consideration of Greenhouse Gas Emissions in NEPA Reviews ESA Review Hypothetical 1 Hypothetical 2 |
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| 26. | Nov. 26, 2018 | Voluntary review session |
Final exam will take place on Dec. 3 from 6 pm to 9 pm in Room 144 TUII . |
Sample Final Exam Essay Question Answer Key to Sample Essay Answers to Email Questions for Finals Review (please submit questions before 5 pm on Thursday, Nov. 29) |
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