esp 199 — environmental policy: pollution...advanced esp courses and other disciplines including...

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ESP 220 — Introduction to Environmental Policy

Syllabus - Fall 2018

Instructor:

Dr. Travis Wagner Department of Environmental Science & Policy University of Southern Maine

Course Objectives:

Learning Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

1. Define an environmental problem from a public policy perspective.

2. Model the causes and effects of an environmental problem.

3. Demonstrate competency in conducting policy research to accurately define and solvean environmental problem using empirical data.

4. Develop the ability to critically analyze the formulation, construction, development, andimplementation of environmental policies.

Skills Outcomes:

1. Develop basic modeling skills.

2. Improve policy research skills.

3. Further enhance professional-level written and oral communication skills.

4. Develop critical analysis skills regarding environmental problems.

Course Overview:

Public Policy is a proactive discipline that seeks to identify and solve social (broadly defined) problems. A subdiscipline, environmental policy, is a multidisciplinary process that seeks to identify causes and effects of environmental problems with a focus on the identification, formulation, communication, adoption, and implementation of efficient and effective solutions. This course is an intensive introduction to the field of environmental policy. You will be studying policy formulation, design, analysis, implementation, and evaluation. In this course, emphasis is on air and water pollution and municipal solid waste.

As shown in Figure 1, this course focuses on the application of the rational policy

process model for studying how environmental policy should be formulated, developed,

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Copyright 2018 Dr. Travis Wagner

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implemented, analyzed, and evaluated. A significant portion of the course focuses on policy

design and policy solutions evaluation using science (risk assessment), economics (cost-

benefit analysis), and political science (timing and implementation). Using the rational policy

process model, you will identify and analyze an environmental pollution problem in Maine of

your choosing (yes, it must be pollution related and yes, it must be in Maine), design a

responsive environmental policy, identify and evaluate unintended consequences, and

communicate your recommended solution. One of the primary products of environmental

policy is writing. Therefore, this course is writing intensive and you are expected to improve

your professional-level written and verbal communication skills.

Figure 1. The Rational Policy Process.

This course examines environmental policy from a Policy Science perspective, which

embraces the disciplines of political science, economics, sociology, natural and applied

sciences, and law in studying policy. Consequently, because of the multifaceted nature of

environmental policy, this course will introduce topics that will be studied more fully in

advanced ESP courses and other disciplines including ecology (ESP 125/126),

microeconomics (ECO 102), environmental economics (ESP 326), environmental risk

assessment and management (ESP 375), environmental ethics (ESP 212), and

environmental law and regulation (ESP 340).

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The course format will be a mixture of lecture, discussion, and research with emphasis

on critical analysis of assigned readings, case studies, in-class activities, and topical

discussions of issues.

Students are expected to come to each class fully prepared to participate in discussions.

Course Materials:

REQUIRED TEXTBOOK

Bardach, E. (2012). A practical guide for policy analysis: The eightfold path to more

effective problem solving. 4th Ed. Washington, DC: CQ Press.

A college-level dictionaryo You will be encountering many new and specialized terms. I expect you to learn

these terms. Therefore, when conducting the reading, use the dictionary tolearn each new term you encounter.

RECOMMENDED TEXTBOOK

Hacker, D. (2006). A writer’s reference, 6th Edition. Boston, MA: Bedford/St.Martin’s.

ASSIGNMENTS

For detailed descriptions of all assignments, see the Assignments folder in BB.

Required course readings (beyond the textbook) are posted in BB under Course

Documents, Assigned Readings folder.

Schedule of Course Topics:

Class Week

Tentative Topics Assigned weekly

Readings Assignments Due

1

Sep 4-9 INTRODUCTION MA #1

2

Sep 10-16 THE POLICY PROCESS Bardach, Introduction and

Part I, pp: 1-15. MA #2

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Class Week



3

Sep 17-23

POLICY RESEARCH

Searching for Empirical Evidence

PROBLEM DEFINITION

What is the problem?

- Bardach Part II- Environmental Problems

Problem Set #1

4

Sep 24-30

ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS

Using Root Cause Analysis to Identify and Define Environmental Problems

- Proposed Policy

Research Topic

- MA #3

5

Oct 1-7

POLITICS OF POLICY DEVELOPMENT

AnthropoTrumpism: Trump and the politics of environmental disruption

- Problem Set #2

- MA #4

6

Oct 8-14

POLICY GOALS & ACTIONABLE ROOT CAUSES

- Policy ProblemProposal

- MA #5

7

Oct 15-21

SOLVING THE PROBLEM Bardach, pp: 16-46

- Problem Set #3

- MA #6

8

Oct 22-28

ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY INSTRUMENTS

Assessing Environmental Policy Instruments

MA #7

9

Oct 29-Nov 4

COMPARING & EVALUATING SOLUTIONS

Search for the Ultimate Sink

MA #8

10

Nov 5-11

DESIGNING & IMPLEMENTING GOOD POLICIES

Strategies for regulatory reform: Forward compared to backward mapping

- Problem Analysis

- MA #9

11

Nov 12-18 AIR POLICY

Command and Control in Action: Air and Water Pollution Regulation, pp 195-215

MA #10

12

Nov 19-25 Work on your research project

13

Nov 26-Dec 2

WATER POLICY

- The Clean Water Act inMaine: Goals andFinancing

- Command and Control inAction: Air and WaterPollution Regulation, pp215-234

MA #11

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Class Week



14

Dec 3-9 SOLID WASTE POLICY

- Moving up the WasteHierarchy in Maine

- Maine solid wastegeneration and capacity:2016

MA #12

15

Dec 10-16

COMMUNICATING POLICY SOLUTIONS

- MA #13- Policy Presentation

- Final Policy Paper

- LearningMemorandum

*Scheduled readings to be completed before class.

Course Requirements:

ASSIGNMENT SCHEDULE AND GRADING INFORMATION:

No. Assignment Points Due Date

Module Assignments (13) 56 Ongoing

Problem Set #1 - Policy Research 10 *Sept. 23

Proposed Policy Research Topic 5 Sept. 30

Problem Set #2 - Problem Analysis 10 Oct. 7

Policy Problem Proposal 10 Oct. 14

Problem Set #3 – Modeling your Environmental Problem

15 Oct. 21

Problem Analysis 30 Nov. 11

Policy Presentation 10 Dec. 12

Final Policy Paper 40 Dec. 15

Learning Memorandum 10 Dec. 16

*Assignments are due by 11:59 p.m. on the specified due date and are to be uploaded

digitally through the Assignments Folder in BB. Late assignments are not accepted.

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Course Policies:

Assignments: Unless otherwise noted, all submissions will be done electronically only through Blackboard. This provides you with greater flexibility as all assignments, unless otherwise noted, are due no later than 10:00 pm on the specified date. Please note that at 10:00 pm on the due day, the ability to upload submissions disappears—paper and/or email submissions will NOT be accepted and late submissions are not possible.

Laptops and I-Devices

Laptop computers (and I-Pads and whatever new technology appears during the semester) can be a useful tool in learning. However, their abuse (emailing, texting, tweeting, Facebook, Four Square, watching silly pet videos, etc.) during class time becomes a barrier to learning to the user and fellow students and is highly distracting and disrespectful to me. Therefore, the laptop/handheld electronic use policy for this is class is as follows:

1. Use of laptops and I-pads are permitted only in the first row of the classroom. 2. You may not display any material on the laptop that may be distracting or offensive to

your fellow students. 3. Emailing, texting, surfing, video watching, or other non-authorized use/communication

during class time is prohibited. 4. Handheld electronic devices - Put them away! 5. Texting, tweeting, or any other personal communication with such devices during class

time is strictly prohibited. 6. Recording during class with any audio devices (e.g., Smart Pen, hand-held recorders,

etc.) or video devices may be done only with the expressed permission by the instructor.

7. Exceptions to the above due to a disability must be arranged through the Office of Support for Students with Disabilities.

8. A student in violation of any of these policies will be given a verbal and/or written warning. The second violation is grounds for ejection of the class period. You do not want to know about the third violation as I expect there will be none.

Missed classes, late assignments, etc.

Unless otherwise noted, all submissions will be done electronically through Blackboard only. Late assignments are NOT accepted (late is defined as receipt after the upload period in BB expires). Email submissions will NOT be accepted--Late submissions will NOT be accepted.

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The upload period generally expires by 10:00 pm on the due-by date, which generally is the day after a class meeting. Attendance

Attendance is critical to your success in this class. For every three unexcused absence, 5% of your final course grade will be deducted. An unexcused absence is one without a doctor’s

note or the USM health center. If you start to feel like you are falling behind, see me immediately. Student Support

If you have difficulties in this course it is imperative you come see me as soon as possible. USM provides various levels of support to ensure your academic success. Student Success Centers are located in 119 Bailey Hall (780-5652) on the Gorham Campus and at 119 Payson Smith Hall (780-4040) on the Portland Campus. For more information visit: http://usm.maine.edu/success.

If you are having problems with computing or Blackboard contact the Help Line at 780-4029 or by email: [email protected].

The Americans with Disabilities Act

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1992 is a federal law mandating the elimination of discrimination against persons with disabilities. If you need course adaptations or accommodations, please make an appointment to see with the Office of Academic Support for Students with Disabilities (237 Luther Bonney, 780-4706). Only students who are registered with OASSD are eligible for accommodation. Students experience difficulty in courses for a variety of reasons.

Plagiarism

Plagiarism is not acceptable and will not be tolerated. In addition to the obvious, other areas of plagiarism include fabrication of data and the presentation of work that is not yours. The latter can be prevented through proper citation, which allows you to provide credit for others’

work. If you have any questions regarding referencing formats and correct citations, please ask me. Go to USM’s library webpage for online tutorials on proper citing of references.

(http://usm.maine.libguides.com/tutorials).

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