MANHATTAN COLLEGE

ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING

ENVL 417 -ENVIRONMENTAL LAW

Sping 2000

Instructor: Walter F. Matystik, M.E., J.D.

wmatysti@manhattan.edu

This Page Last Updated 3/28/2000 

Class List
Class Photos

Course Requirements and Outline

Required Text:

Environmental Law Handbook - 15th Edition

Government Institutes,Inc.,Rockville, MD.,1997
Thomas F.P. Sullivan (Editor)
ISBN: 0-86587-650-9

Other References:
 
 
 

Environmental Guide to the Internet

Government Institutes,Inc.,Rockville, MD.,1999
Jonathan F. Schupp
ISBN: 0-86587-449-2-6

Environmental Law and Policy: Nature, Law, and Society

West Publishing Co., St. Paul, Minn.,1992
Zygmunt J.B. Plater, Robert H. Abrams, William Goldfarb
ISBN:0-314-00341-X

Supplemental Reference:

Environmental Law - 2nd ed.

West Publishing Co., St. Paul, Minn.,1994
William H. Rodgers,Jr.
ISBN:0-314-03576-1

Supplemental Reference:

State Environmental Agencies on the Internet

Government Institutes,Inc.Rockville, MD.,1999
Walter F. Matystik,et al.
ISBN:0-86587-685-8

Some Useful Internet Resources


Grading:

  • Three (3) Examinations: 60% (~20% each)
  • One (1) Term Paper (due final exam week): 20%
  • Assignments + Class Participation: 20%
     

    GOALS


    COURSE OUTLINE



    TOPICS
    WEEK

    I. LEGAL AND LEGISLATIVE SYSTEM
    - Overview of Judicial System 
    - How our Laws are Made
    - Regulatory Agencies 
  • Administrative Law 
    - Federal Register System 
    Search the Federal Register & U.S. Code
    		•
    1-2

    II. ENVIRONMENTAL LAW FUNDAMENTALS

    		 - The Environmental Law System 
    - Rights,Remedies,Responsibilities -"3Rs" 
    - Historical Background 
    - Common Law (Eg. nuisance,trespass) 
    - Statutory Law 
  • Chart: Growth in Environmental Laws
    - "Standing"
  • Scenic Hudson case
  • Sierra Club case -Recent Developments in Standing doctrine

    - Hard Look doctrine:Overton Park case (map)
    - Liability


    • 2-3

    III. NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT

    		 - Pre-NEPA 
    - NEPA
    - National Policy 
    - CEQ 
    - Environmental Impact Statements 
  • Agency Mandates: Calvert Cliffs case 
  • EPA Policy & Procedures 
  • EPA Ratings 
    - Types of Actions 
    - Functional Equivalence -U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permitting
    - "Mini-NEPA's" (Eg.SEQRA)

    - Environmental Justice

    		•
    3-4

    IV. CLEAN WATER ACT
    - Historical Background
    - CWA Overview
    - Discharges 
    - NPDES Permit Program 
    - Effluent Limitations 
    - Pretreatment 
    - Nonpoint sources 
    - Enforcement 
    • administrative orders; civil & criminal penalties 
    • "citizen suits" 
    • penalties 

    - SPDES 
    5-6

    V. RESOURCE CONSERVATION
    AND RECOVERY ACT
    - Historical Background 
    - "Cradle To Grave" System 
    - Solid and Hazardous Wastes 
    - Generators 
    - Transporters 
    - TSD Facilities 
    - Enforcement 
      • criminal penalties 
      • "citizen suits" : KFC case 

    7-8

    VI. "SUPERFUND"
    - CERCLA: 
    • Historical Background 
    • Petroleum exclusion 
    • NPL 
    • NCP 
    • Site Remediation 

    - Liability

    • strict, joint and several 
    • retroactive 
    • indiviual 
    • corporate 
    -Alternatives

    - EPA Enforcement

    • penalties
    -Defenses
    8-9

    VII. TOXIC SUBSTANCES CONTROL ACT
    - TSCA background and history 
    - Inventory 
    - PMN 
    - Regulation of PCBs 
    10-11

    VIII. PESTICIDES
    - FIFRA 
    - Pesticide Registration 
    - Case Study 
  • kepone: background and current status 
    - PMN 
    		•
    12

    IX. SAFE DRINKING WATER ACT
    - SDWA 
    12-13

    X. POLLUTION PREVENTION ACT
    - PPA 
    - Strategy 
    - EPA Initiative 
    - State Programs 
    - Waste Reduction Programs 
    14

    ASSIGNMENTS


    Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5
    Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 Week 9 Week 10
    Week 11 Week 12 Week 13 Week 14

    CLASS SUMMARIES

    Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5
    Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 Week 9 Week 10
    Week 11 Week 12 Week 13


    This Page Last Updated 3/28/2000