Professor Heather L. Beatty
Section 1, Synonym
46488
Rio Grande Campus, Room
A254
Tuesdays and Thursdays 6:00- 6:50 PM
An introduction to the history of the environmental movement, including basic requirements for compliance with the environmental regulations. Discussion of local, state, and national regulations, ordinances, laws and court decisions relating to environmental hazards, pollution, conservation, and environmental preservation. Description of the process of permit application, compliance, and enforcement of environmental regulations.
Reading and writing proficiency as proven by passing score on ACC assessment or TASP tests, or by exemption through transcripted hours from another college.
Ostler, Neal K. and Nielsen, John T., Editors, 1996, Environmental
Regulations
Overview, Volume 2: Upper Saddle River, New Jersey,
Prentice-Hall, 220 p.
Information on Reserves at ACC Libraries can be found at http://library.austincc.edu/gen-info/reserves-about.htm
This course is taught in the classroom in a lecture/discussion format. Student learning will be assessed with a term paper and informal presentation to the class, a written report from an environmental government meeting, and three in-class examinations.
Compliance with environmental regulations can be a significant business liability. College-educated consumers, voters, and decision-makers need to understand the development of these regulations to make decisions on proposed new regulations and compliance with current regulations.
The skills learned in this course are commonly used by technicians and professionals in the environmental industry, by governmental employees working in environmental protection programs, and by legal professionals specializing in environmental law. This course is a survey of environmental regulations in the United States. It is an introductory to the environmental science and technology program at ACC.
Learn about the history of the environmental movement in the United States.
Understand the role of governments in environmental regulation.
Understand the mechanisms in compliance and enforcement of environmental regulations.
Learn about the key federal environmental regulations and their corresponding State equivalents.
Learn about some unique local environmental regulations.
A 1500 word term paper and an informal presentation to the class must be completed before April 24, 2007. Guidance for the paper and a list of approved topics will be provided.
Students must attend one governmental meeting and write a 300 to 500 word short report. It is due no later than May 3, 2007. Guidance for the report will be provided.
Exams will contain questions representative of lectures, handouts, and material from the text. A list of review concepts will be distributed one week before each examination. No examinations will be given early for any reason. If an exam is missed, the final exam score will be replace the score for the missed exam. Approximately one quarter of the final examination will be comprehensive.
Your course grade will be determined by your performance on the
following:
20% - Term Paper and Presentation
10% - Government Meeting Report
20% - Exam I
20% - Exam II
30% - Final Examination
The following scale will be used to determine your course grade:
90-100% - A
80-89% - B
70-79% - C
60-69% - D
Below 60% - F
Students who score higher on the final examination compared with their previous exams will be granted up to two points on their final grade average.
Adjunct Associate Professor: Heather L. Beatty
Office Hours:
7:00-8:00 P.M. Tuesdays and Thursdays, Faculty Lounge at Rio Grande
Campus
Conference Appointments can be arranged in person, by telephone
or by e-mail
Telephone/Voice mail: 470-4013
Electronic mail:
hbeatty@tceq.state.tx.us - checked
daily Monday through Friday
Web page: http://home.att.net/~instruct
Students are expected to attend class and participate in class activities. Students who do not attend class during the first two weeks of the semester may be administratively withdrawn. Reports and term papers turned in late will be penalized four percentage points each calendar day. Late work placed in Ms. Beatty's mailbox in RGC Room 204 must have the date of receipt stamped on them by the administrative assistant in the mail room.
If you decide to drop this class, you must protect your academic record by withdrawing no later than April 23, 2007. You must also verify that you have successfully withdrawn from the class before the final withdrawal date.
An incomplete (grade of "I") will only be given if extenuating circumstances, such as illness or death of a loved one, keep a student from completing the final examination. An incomplete must be requested in writing with documentation of the extenuating circumstances. If a grade of I is given, the final examination must be taken by a date set by the student and professor. This date may not be later than two weeks prior to the end of the 2007 Fall Semester.
See attached page for policies on scholastic dishonesty, student discipline, & academic freedom. Also, see the attachment for student services and instructional services.
Each ACC campus offers support services for students with documented physical or psychological disabilities. Students with disabilities must request reasonable accommodations through the Office of Students with Disabilities (phone for RGC: 223-3142) on the campus where they expect to take the majority of their classes. Students are encouraged to do this three weeks before the start of the semester. If needed, please provide your professor with an Approved Accommodations and Academic Adjustments form before Monday, February 1, 2007 so that appropriate accommodations can be made. All information regarding your special needs is confidential.
In this course, you will be asked to come to class prepared to participate in discussion and take notes during lecture. This includes reading and understanding pre-assigned material. Exam questions typically come from material in the text, handouts, and lecture notes. Topics covered during classroom discussion should be understood.
You are expected to be seated and ready for class on time. If you arrive late
or need to leave early, please sit near the door. Please notify the professor if
you have to arrive late or leave early on a regular basis. As common courtesy,
do not interrupt the professor or classmates when they are speaking, do not
carrying on conversations during lectures, and turn off audible rings on your
cell phone and pager before you come to class.
Schedule changes may occur during the semester. Any changes will be announced
in class.
| Date | Lecture Topic | Chapter in Text or Pages |
| Jan. 16 | Overview of Environmental Movement | 1, 2 |
| Jan. 18 | History of Environmental Laws and Regulations | 1, 2 |
| Jan. 23 | Role of Government Regulation | 3 |
| Jan. 25 | Legislative / Federal and State Regulatory Process | 3, 4 |
| Jan. 30 | Compliance and Enforcement Mechanisms | 4 |
| Feb. 1 | Clean Water Act | p. 102-105 |
| Feb. 6 | Clean Water Act | p. 102-105 |
| Feb. 8 | Clean Water Act | p. 102-105 |
| Feb. 13 | Clean Water Act | p. 102-105 |
| Feb. 15 | Clean Water Act | p. 102-105 |
| Feb. 20 | Exam I | - |
| Feb. 22 | Safe Drinking Water Act | p.147-148 |
| Feb. 27 | Safe Drinking Water Act | p.147-148 |
| Mar. 1 | Safe Drinking Water Act | p.147-148 |
| Mar. 6 | SDWA Programs | p.147-148 |
| Mar. 8 | Water Rights | - |
| Mar. 13 | Spring Break | - |
| Mar. 15 | Spring Break | - |
| Mar. 20 | Resource Conservation Recovery Act | p. 144-147, p. 161-166 |
| Mar. 22 | Resource Conservation Recovery Act | p. 144-147, p. 161-166 |
| Mar. 27 | Resource Conservation Recovery Act | p. 144-147, p. 161-166 |
| Mar. 29 | Resource Conservation Recovery Act | p. 144-147, p. 161-166 |
| Apr. 3 | Texas Underground Storage Tank Program | - |
| Apr. 5 | Exam II | - |
| Apr. 10 | Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act | p. 105-108, p. 149 |
| Apr. 12 | Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act | p. 105-108, p. 149 |
| Apr. 17 | Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act | p. 105-108, p. 149 |
| Apr. 19 | Endangered Species Act | p. 112-114 |
| Apr. 24 | Term Paper Presentations | - |
| Apr. 26 | Term Paper Presentations | - |
| May 1 | Texas Spill Rules | - |
| May 3 | Local Jurisdiction of Environmental Regulations | - |
| May 8 | Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act | p. 109-112 |
| May 10 | Final Examination | - |
Environmental Science and Technology 1205
Attachment
Academic Policies and Student
Services
Acts prohibited by the College for which discipline may be administered include scholastic dishonesty, including but not limited to cheating on an exam or quiz, plagiarizing, and unauthorized collaboration with another in preparing outside work. Academic work submitted by students shall be the result of their thought, research, or self-expression. Academic work is defined as, but not limited to tests, quizzes, whether taken electronically or on paper; projects, either individual or group; classroom presentations, and homework.
Institutions of higher education are conducted for the common good. The common good depends upon a search for truth and upon free expression. In this course the professor and students shall strive to protect free inquiry and the open exchange of facts, ideas, and opinions. Students are free to take exception to views offered in this course and to reserve judgment about debatable issues. Grades will not be affected by personal views. With this freedom comes the responsibility of civility and a respect for a diversity of ideas and opinions. This means that students must take turns speaking, listen to others speak without interruption, and refrain from name-calling or other personal attacks.
Students enrolled in this course are expected to comply with the provisions of this syllabus and the Student Code of Conduct. With the exception of scholastic dishonesty, violations of the Student Code of Conduct will be reported to the Northridge Campus Dean/Student Services for disciplinary action. Any student suspected of scholastic dishonesty will meet in private with the professor to discuss the alleged offense(s) and review the evidence that supports the charge. After conferring with the student, the professor will dismiss the allegation or assess an academic penalty. A student will be informed in writing if an academic penalty is assessed and he or she should consult the current Student Handbook & Academic Planner for their rights and responsibilities.
ACC Testing Center policies can be found at: http://www2.austincc.edu/testctr/
The Web address for student services is: http://www.austincc.edu/resources_students/services.php The ACC student handbook can be found at: http://www.austincc.edu/handbook/