The term "environmental policy" carries a variety of meanings; it has no precise general definition. In this course, "environmental policy" will refer to determined courses of action taken through human institutions in relation to the environment and to the methods used to attain the objectives of those actions. The emphasis will be on the intentions, rationales, values, and decision processes behind the courses of action, not always the actual behaviors and courses of action themselves. Furthermore, environmental policy will be viewed as a reflection of all of the imperfections of human society, seldom complete from paradox and contradiction. We will assume it is an organic, not a mechanical sort of thing. Most importantly, it will be understood as a dynamic process, changing in significance along with changes in its social and political mileau, even though its policy statements remain unchanged. Its embodiment in law (statutes, orders, treaties, and legal precepts) will be examined, but primary emphasis will be focused on how these expressions of legal intent are understood and interpreted -- not necessarily in their literal texts

Accordingly, the course will be a comprehensive, interdisciplinary introduction to the philosophical factors, values, preferences, and economic interests that underlie the formulation and administration of environmental policy. It's objectives are:

(1)To investigate the nature of large scale institutions and their relationship to the natural environment

(2)To introduce the student to some of the major concepts and ideas required to understand and evaluate regulations and markets as distinctly different environmental policy mechanisms.

(3)To familiarize the student with some of the major debates currently surrounding these mechanisms.

(4)To introduce the student to a few of the practical skills used in environmental policy and administration, such as cost/benefit analysis, environmental audits, and risk assessment.

(5)To sensitize the student to the state of selected environmental policy issues in the later half of the 1990s.

The student will be expected to attend and participate in class every week (20%), write a term paper (40%), and pass a final exam (40%)

The reading will be fairly extensive. There are three books required for the class, plus several articles clipped from newspapers and magazines. The five books are:

Herman Daly:Beyond Growth (0-8070-4708-2)

Roger E. Meiners and Bruce Yandle (editors), Taking the Environment Seriously(Lanham, Maryland: Rowman and Littlefield Publishers, Inc., 1995).

Norman J. vig and Michael E. Kraft (editors)Environmental Policy in the l990s, (Washington, D.C.:Congressional Quarterly, Inc., 1997).

The Environmental Policy Paradox (Prentice Hall)

The instructor will be available during regular office hours from 10:00-11:45 on Tuesday and Thursday or by appointment. Office hours are set aside to provide students with individual assistance outside of scheduled class meetings.

The student will write a term paper on a selfselected, pre-approved aspect of environmental policy. It will be double spaced, and between fifteen (15) and twenty (20) pages (plus appendices if necessary) . The student will select the topic by October 7 (5% of the final paper grade)

A draft version will be due on November 21 (25% of the final paper grade). The final paper will be due on December 2.

Four general approaches, may be used in preparing the paper.

1.Policy Analysis: This approach is an analysis of a definite policy proposal, including but not limited to it's (1) administrative, (2) efficiency, (3) equity or justice, (4) legal, or (5) political aspects. The intent is to provide advice for that specific policy, through critique and analysis. The approach requires a clear statement of specifically what policy proposal the student is considering, what its goal is, and identification and qualitative (or quantitative) assessment of its cost for affected groups. (It is understood that this must be accomplished with limited information)

2.Program/Project Evaluation:This approach is an analysis and assessment of how well an existing or proposed project is accomplishing or will accomplish a policy goal. Such an analysis requires identification of alternative ways the goal could be achieved. It is important to examine the costs and benefits associated with the different alternatives. Benefit/cost analysis and cost effectiveness analysis are frequently used in program and project evaluation studies.

3.   Program/Project Implementation Plan: This approach involves the design of a plan for the start-up or creation of a program or project that is to accomplish a policy goal. It is important to identify the program/project goals and objectives, program/project components and how they are to relate to one another and to create an implementation time table. Source of funds and adequacy of both construction and operation budgets are attributes of implementation that normally should be considered.

4. Position Paper: This approach marshals arguments in support of or against a specific policy or program/ project. Specific guidelines for a position paper will be distributed in class. Only guidelines for the position paper will be given in detail. However, these generally apply to the other approaches but with different emphasis and purpose.

Week 1. What is Policy? What is Environmental Policy?

First chapters in The Policy Process: by Lindbloom and Woodhouse

First chapters in The Policy Paradox (Prentice Hall)

a)Environmental Decision Analysis with the AHP Readings from Saaty

b)Benefit/Cost Analysis

Read Policy monograph

c)Risk Assessment and Risk-Based Decision making

Reading from Vig and Kraft, others

From Vig and Kraft and Decision making uncertainty books

Meiners and Yandle.

Week 9 - 16.Selected Environmental Policy Issues

a) Toxic and Hazardous Waste

b) Environmental Justice

c) Sustainable Development

d) Air Pollution Policy

e) Water Pollution Policy

f) Energy Policy

g) Global Environmental Issues