Environmental Assessment
ES/RP 444/544

Course description

This course focuses on environmental protection in the United States as implemented through the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969. The major goals of this course are to:

• Understand the role of science and scientific research in environmental assessment
• Understand the role of law and the courts in the interpretation of NEPA
• Describe the interpretation and implementation of NEPA through various federal agencies
• Explore the relationship between NEPA and state and local environmental assessments processes
• Go through the process of preparing an environmental impact statement (EIS)
• Review and critique EAs and EISs
• Think about the general philosophy of environmental assessment and evaluate its goals
• Chart a course for future ways to protect the environment through assessment