Course Description

601:622. ENVIRONMENTAL LAW (3)

Kovacs



No technical background is necessary. Recommended: Courses that examine regulatory issues, e.g., Administrative Law, Health Law, and Regulation of Land Use.


Examination of the concepts underlying such laws as the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act, not only to provide a general introduction to these statutes, but also to explore the many difficult policy and implementation issues involved in trying to protect the environment and public health. Examples of questions to be addressed include: How should cost be taken into account in determining environmental standards? Can environmental standards be designed in ways that will encourage cost-effective means of control? How should scientific evidence be considered in determining standards? What are the proper roles of administrative agencies, legislatures, and courts in designing environmental protection strategies? How can citizens best participate in determining the answers to complicated technical and political issues?