MAF 510 - Environmental Planning and the Environment Impact Statement, Prof. Daniel Suman

Course Goals:

This course will take a broad view of environmental planning and analysis while focusing specifically on the requirements for and preparation of environmental impact statements. We will look at the federal level. Our approach will rely heavily on judicial opinions that provide compelling examples of environmental disputes and controversies.

Material:

1. Introduction
   
2. The Administrative Process
   
3. Introduction to NEPA & The Sea
   
4. Substantive Effects on Decision Making
   
5. The Decision to Prepare Environmental Documents
   
6. The Scope of NEPA and ESA Documents
   
7. Policy Aspects of the EIS Process
   
8. NEPA: The Substance of an EIS
   
9. International EIA Experiences

Assignments:

Two take home essays, an analysis of a current draft or final Environmental Impact Statement or Environmental Assessment, Group Project.

Grades:

Exercise 1 and Exercise 2 20% each, Exercise 3 25%, Group Project 25%, and Class Participation 10%.

Textbook:

Battle, Fischman & Squillace, Environmental Decisionmaking: NEPA and the Endangered Species Act (BFS)

Gilpin, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA): Cutting Edge for the Twenty-First Century (G)

Xeroxed Course Reader

Suman, Shivlani & Villanueva, Urban Growth & Sustainable Habitats (Case Studies)

Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Final Management Plan/ Environmental Impact Statement