ENMT303 Environmental Regulations and Policy Week 5 and 7 Assignment
Use of Federal Registry to investigate resource or pollution issue you are concerned about
This assignment addresses the following course outcomes:
Use knowledge of environmental regulations to address risks to human health and the environment and advocate for sustainable solutions and practices
Articulate how agencies and federal departments make rules and implement policies that impact human health and natural resources.
At this point in the course, you have learned about a number of acts related to the environment or to human health and safety. For this assignment, you will explore the rulemaking process that forms the background for legislative acts. Please follow the steps provided below to complete Week 5 Assignment: Using the Federal Register to investigate an environmental, health, or safety issue.
(Step 1) Go to: https://www.federalregister.gov/
Click on the “Current Issue” tab.
(Step 2) (30 points) PART A: In a Table, list the following content for three different proposed rules that are administered by agencies authorized to set regulations that address environmental, safety, or health issues.
For each of the three proposed rules provide the following content in the Table, in columns from left to right: Agency name, Docket number, Name of Proposed Rule, the Act that authorizes the rule, and the closing period for Notice-and-Comment.
IMPORTANT: The proposed rule’s comment period must be current and still open for receipt.
(Step 3) Study “Tips for Submitting Effective Comments” at:
https://www.regulations.gov/docs/Tips_For_Submitting_Effective_Comments.pdf
(and also available in Course Resources > eReadings in LEO)
(Step 4) PART B: Apply what you learned about submitting effective comments to submit a comment for one of the Proposed Rules you selected for the Table above.
Part B (i) (30 points): Provide a clear explanation of your position. Include background evidence or data to support your position. Use specific strategies discussed in the Tips For Submitting Effective Comments document.
Part B (ii) (30 points): Explain how this Proposed Rule could impact you or your community. Provide concrete examples. To support your comments, use specific strategies discussed in the Tips For Submitting Effective Comments document.
Part B (iii) (10 points) Citations and College Writing skills. Use APA format to list all sources used to support your position. Use proper grammar and spelling. Assure coherent and cohesive content flow.
(Step 5) Submit complete Part A and Part B as a .docx, .pdf, or .rtf document into Week 5 Assignment folder.
ENMT303 Environmental Regulations and Policy
Week 7 Assignment
Environmental Justice Case Study
This assignment addresses the following course outcomes:
Demonstrate awareness of historical events that led to creation of present federal U.S. agencies responsible for environmental regulations and policies
Use knowledge of environmental regulations to address risks to human health and the environment and advocate for sustainable solutions and practices
Effectively communicate on national and global environmental issues and policies to persuade, inform, and clarify ideas, information, and procedures to various stakeholders
As noted in the course content, environmental injustice is a very difficult topic to discuss given the complexity of race and poverty in America and around the world. For this project, please use one of the suggested case studies below — or you may propose a different EJ case study to me. If you propose your own case study, you must do so two weeks before the due date for this assignment so that I can work with you to determine the appropriateness of the case study you proposed.
Here are possible environmental justice case studies:
35th Avenue Superfund site in north Birmingham, Alabama
Lead contamination in drinking water in Flint, Michigan
The Battle for Turkey Creek
Environmental Justice in San Joaquin Valley
Helena Chemical Plant in Mission, Texas
After you have read materials from at least four reliable sources (can be any form of media as long as it is from a reliable source) for your case study, please address the following questions/topics in your report:
Provide a historical background on the area of concerns and the pollution(s) of concern. In this background, please indicate who were the people or organizations that first brought the injustice to public attention. (15 points possible)
What evidence is there that this is an environmental injustice issue? Please be specific using data/metrics to support or refute the disproportionate health burden of this specific pollution issue on the poor or minority group. (20 points possible)
What organizations are involved in the investigation of this case? How do they work together on this case? (10 points possible)
Provide the main arguments from the defense side of this case. (15 points possible)
Who has taken what actions since the start of this EJ case? Provide a rough timeline of events. Provide your analysis on the justice of these actions and any additional actions that should be taken. What insights have you gained from learning about this case and what would you have done differently with 20-20 hindsight and why? What would be a more sustainable solution? (30 points possible)
References and citations in APA format. (10 points possible)
Proper grammar, spelling, and sentence structure are expected for this and all writing for this class. Submit this EJ case study into your Week 7 Assignment folder.