Natural Resource Law and Policy Seminar (1 hr)
Instructor
Dr. Roel R. Lopez, 979-845-4067 (office), 979-324-9636 (cell), roel@tamu.edu.
College Station office – 1500 Research Parkway, Suite 110, College Station, TX 77843
San Antonio office – 2632 Broadway Suite 301 South, San Antonio, Texas 78215
Class Meeting – Thursday, 6:00-7:00 pm (Central Time) – GoToMeeting conference (TBD).
Course Description
Graduate seminar reviewing the formation and implementation of major natural resource laws
and policies that impact land uses (in general) and management of wildlife populations
(specific). Seminar will provide an overview of natural resource laws/policies followed by
student presentation of selected case study.
Delivery and Prerequisites.—Seminar is web-based and part of a series of graduate courses
supporting the Certificate in Military Sustainability (http://military.tamu.edu/). Short video
lectures from instructor and guest speakers, assigned readings, written assignments, and
student presentations will shape the course curriculum. Students will develop and present an
online seminar on selected natural resource/wildlife law or policy. For students pursuing
Certificate in Military Sustainability, seminar topic must focus on a law or policy that impacts
military land use. A personal computer, access to a high-speed Internet connection, Windows
XP OS or higher, Microsoft’s PowerPoint (version Office 2007 or newer), and recording
microphone is recommended. Course enrollment requires graduate classification or instructor
approval (1 credit hour).
Reading List
Select readings available on course website
and listed below:
Salzman, J., and B. H. Thompson, Jr. 2010.
Environmental law and policy. Third
edition. Foundation Press, New York,
NY.
Freyfogle, E. T. and Goble, D. D. 2008.
Wildlife law: a primer. Island Press,
Washington, D.C. (optional)
Table 1. Course grade distribution (points and %).
Item and maximum points available
Grade (%)
Class Participation
40
Seminar participation – 20 points
Web (eLearning) discussion – 20 points
Case Study Review
60
PowerPoint presentation – 15 points
White paper – 15 points
One pager – 10 points
Action memorandum – 10 points
Presentation critique – 10 points
Total Points
100
Pass=>70 points, Fail = < 69 points.
Participation and Grading
Student participation with online lectures, readings, and group discussions is imperative for
successfully completing the course. An outline of the pass/fail distribution is provided (Table 1).
Student participation in weekly lectures and web discussions will be graded based on
attendance and professionalism with fellow classmates and guest speakers. Students will
review a case study on a major natural resource policy and prepare a 15-20 minute PowerPoint
presentation, white paper, and one-pager. Student narration will be recorded and presentation
posted to the course website (http://military.tamu.edu/). In addition, students will review and
critique student presentations each week. Seminar topics must be approved by instructor
within the first 3 weeks of the semester. Specific assignment instructions are available on the
course website.
Academic dishonesty
We believe in the Aggie Code of Honor:
Aggies do not lie, cheat, or steal,
Nor do they tolerate those who do.
Academic dishonesty includes copying, sharing, or obtaining information from an unauthorized
source, attempting to take credit for the intellectual work of another person, falsifying
information, and giving or receiving information about exam or assignment to students in
another course section. Any student involved in academic dishonesty will receive no credit for
work done and/or may be penalized in accordance with published University Rules. The
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guarantees that all students with disabilities be provided
a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you
believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Office of Support
Services for Students with Disabilities in Room 126 of the Koldus Building. The phone number is
845-1637.
Fall 2010 – Tentative Schedule
Week
1
(9/2)
2
(9/9)
3
(9/16)
4
(9/23)
Lecture Topic
Introduction
 Course Introduction; History of Environmental Policy and Law
Perspectives on Environmental Law and Policy
 Basic themes of environmental law (e.g., scientific uncertainty,
market failures, mismatched scales, sustainable development, etc.)
 Analytical frameworks (i.e., environmental rights, utilitarianism and
cost-benefits, environmental justice).
Practice of Environmental Protection
 Instrument choice (e.g.., prescriptive regulation, property rights,
financial penalties, financial payments, persuasion)
 Administration (i.e., rulemaking and adjudication)
 Constitutional Issues (e.g., congressional powers, legislative
delegation, regulatory takings)
 How citizen groups shape environmental law and policy (i.e.,
lobbying, citizen suits, and standing).
WILDLIFE POLICY AND LAW
Diminishing Resources and Public Trust Doctrine
Conserving—Restrictions on Commerce and Take
 Lacy, Migratory Bird Treaty Acts, Marine Mammal Protection Act,
Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries Conservation Act, etc.
Conserving Wildlife Habitat
 Federal wildlife refuge acquisition and management
 Funding and/or mandates to states (Pittman-Robertson, DingleJohnson, Fish and Wildlife Conservation Acts, etc.)
Effects of Federal Actions on Wildlife Habitat
 Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act; NEPA
 Planning and Coordination
Conserving Endangered Species
 Endangered Species Act, HCPs, Safe Harbor, etc.
Readings/Assignments
Salzman (Ch. 1)
**GoToMeeting**
Salzman (Ch. 2-3)
Guest Speaker:
Ron Kaiser
**GoToMeeting**
Salzman (Ch. 10-11)
Readings
Guest Speaker:
Markus Peterson
**GoToMeeting**
Salzman (Ch. 12)
Readings
Guest Speaker:
Anna Munoz
**GoToMeeting**
5
(9/30)
POLICY PRACTICE AND SKILLS
 Common writing documents in policy implementation (i.e., white
paper, one-pager, action memo) and presentation formats (i.e.,
PowerPoint, meeting management)
Review of examples
Guest Speaker:
Bruce Beard
**GoToMeeting**
6-15
STUDENT PRESENTATIONS
Case study review of environmental or wildlife law impacting land use
(either negative or positive)
Submission of
presentation (due
assigned week), white
paper and one pager
(due at end of semester)
**GoToMeeting - web-based class discussion during scheduled Thursday class time. Instructions will be emailed
and posted to the course website.