Environmental Assessment
ES/RP 444/544

Spring 2010

Instructor: Dr. Brian Tissot, WSU Vancouver ELSB 230M, Tissot@wsu.edu

Course Hrs:        M & W 9:10-10:25 VUCB 125

Discussion Hrs: Undergraduate: Tu or Th 2:50-3:50, VUCB 125

                               Graduate: W 10:30-11:30, VUCB 125

Office Hrs:          M & W 1-2 or by appointment 546-9630

TA:                    Jen Blaine (jen.blaine@email.wsu.edu), VELS 208

Office Hrs:      Tu 12-2

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Required text:   Layzer, J. A. 2005. Environmental case: translating values into policy.  2^nd edition. CQ
      Press, Washington DC.

Reference texts: Jain, R., L.V. Urban, G.S. Stacey and H. Balbach. 2002. Environmental Assessment. 2^nd
        Edition. McGraw-Hill.

                                Reinke, D. C. & L.L. Swartz. 1999. The NEPA Reference Guide. Batelle Press.

*** Note to Spring 2010 students: Please read the following article as soon as possible. The provide an excellent overview of NEPA and a nice introduction to the course.

Weiland, P.S. 1999. Amending the NEPA: federal environmental protection for the 21st Century. J. Land Use & Environmental Law. 12(2): 275-305.

Table of Contents:

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Course description

Course list-serve

Tentative Syllabus

Internet resources

On-line WSU journals

 Integral Ecology website

Reference material:

NEPA court cases discussed in class

General course references

 Take the Enneagram test!

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Papers for discussion in conference and class:

• References on a constitutional amendment

• References on Bush vs. Clinton Environmental Policy

• Social Ecology & Productive Harmony in NEPA

• Oregon MPA Public Meetings

  • Oregonian article

  • Background documents

  • Relevant presentations: see Oct. 2006 meeting

• Environmental Justice: Saving Our Backyard The environmental racism hoax GAO 1983 Report

Public Meetings:

Columbia River Crossing

• Feb. 3: Society of Automotive Engineers: 5:30-6:30

• Feb. 10: Portland Working Group: 5:30-7:30

• Feb. 10: Hayden Island Open House: 5:30-7:30

City of Vancouver Meetings

• Jan. 25, Feb. 1, Feb. 8: City Council

• Jan. 26: Planning Commission

• Jan. 27: Design Review Committee

Clark County Board  Meetings

• Jan. 26: 10am-12pm

• Feb. 2: 6:00-8:00

• Feb. 9: 10am-12pm

• Clark County Advisory Board Meetings (38 groups)

 News and Notes:

 DOI Report on Julie McDonald

 State Climate Change Bills

 

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Lecture Notes:

Lecture 1 -- Introduction

Lecture2 -- Environmental Crisis

Lecture3 -- Defining problems

Lecture4 - Introduction to IE | Questions for Journal

Lecture5 - Introduction to IE2

Lecture6 - Spiral dynamics and conflict resolution

Lecture7 - Conflict Resolution & Enneagrams  |  Questions for Journal

Lecture8 - Law & Policy

Lecture9 - Historical Framework

Lecture10 - Legislative History of NEPA | Policy Paper Choices for next week's discussion

Lecture11 - Introduction to NEPA and CEQ    Case law: Calvert Cliffs'

Lecture12 - Review Process  Case law: Minnesota | Metropolitan Edison 

Lecture13 - ESA  Case law: Hill | Seattle Audubon | Sweet Home

Journal check 3/11

Lecture14 - EAs and Significance Case Law: Fiery Gizzard | Hanley | Marsh

 

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Assignments:

• Assignment 1: Public Meeting Review

• Assignment 2: Policy Brief

• Assignment 3:  EA Checklist & FONSI review DUE April 5 Example Checklist for Poouli EA

• Assignment 4: EIS Review

Homework:

• EA: Makah Whale Harvest EA
• EIS:Examples

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