575.707.81 - Environmental Compliance Management

Expanded Course Description

The course covers compliance with environmental laws and regulations by industry, small business, government facilities and others ... basically any kind of organization. Although the course pertains to the legal and regulatory responsibilities facing managers, this is not a law course. It is a course in environmental management, set in the context of legal responsibilities borne by governments, institutions, corporations, and individuals. Because this legal framework is fundamental to environmental compliance and management in the United States, the reference book Environmental Law Handbook was chosen. 

It is important to stress that the management responsibilities and techniques covered in the course are broader than “laws and regulations.”  A manager’s responsibilities include extra-legal items such as the goals of the organizations, public relations objectives, relations with the community, relations with government and regulators, wise use of professional resources/associations and elected officials to attain compliance goals, managing the organization’s communications via available media, etc. 

Your instructor is available to discuss the course, specific problems, or subjects that you have a special interest in. It is important to me that this course is a worthwhile educational experience for you, so and I encourage you to contact me soon and often. Your easy access to me is a priority for this instructor.

On the other hand, please consider whether your communication might also be of interest to others taking the course. Many questions are, so please use the course online discussion area as much as possible so that others will benefit from your questions and input.  Doing so might also contribute to credit for your online participation.

Because of the limitations inherent to this online medium, students sometimes feel that the feedback provided via the Discussions and exams/papers is not fully adequate. Working together, we can compensate for any such limitation. Don't be bashful. The old expression "there are no stupid questions" may be an exaggeration but I'm happier enduring a dozen examples of non-brilliance than missing a single question that was left unasked out of fear.

Course Structure

The course materials are divided into modules which can be accessed by clicking Modules on the course menu. A module will have several sections including the overview, content, readings, discussions, and assignments. You are encouraged to preview all sections of the module before starting. Most modules run for a period of 7 days, exceptions are noted in the Course Outline. You should regularly check the Calendar and Announcements for assignment due dates.

Course Topics

• Module  1 – Introductions and The System of Environmental Law
• Module  2 – Environmental Management & ISO 14001
• Module  3 – Management: Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
• Module  4 – Management: Underground Storage Tanks (USTs)
• Module  5 – Management: Clean Air Act (CAA)
• Module  6 – Management: Clean Water Act (CWA)
• Module  7 – First Compliance Plan due, and Midterm Examination
• Module  8 – Management: Oil Pollution Act (OPA), Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)
• Module  9 – Management: Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation & Liability Act (CERCLA)
• Module 10 – Management: National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Climate Change
• Module 11– Management: Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and Pollution Prevention Act (PPA)
• Module 12 – Management: Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act (EPCRA)
• Module 13 – Environmental Management Summary, International, & Final Discussion
• Module 14 – Second Compliance Plan & Final Examination .

Course Goals

The course will touch on environmental compliance systems and practices such as audits, information systems, and the development of corporate policies and procedures to meet the daunting challenge of harmonizing the institution's primary goals with its environmental obligations. Several dimensions of environmental management are discussed:  federal, state and local regulation; scientific/technical factors; public relations and the press; institutional objectives including economic competitiveness; and management techniques for handling conflicting demands of colleagues, supervisors, regulators, public officials, and the general public. 

Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs)

• Examine the structure of US environmental law and regulation, and how it affects organizations and individuals
• Examine responsibilities that managers of many types have under those laws and regulations
• Examine other responsibilities and opportunities, related to environmental obligations, open to managers for advancing all the organization’s goals
• Employ techniques described in the course to manage organizations, personnel, and external resources in ways most likely to meet those responsibilities, even when they are sometimes contradictory.

Textbooks

Environmental Law Handbook 24th New Edition

Hardback:   ISBN: 978-1-64143-350-1
Electronic: EISBN: 978-1-64143-351-8

Other Materials & Online Resources

Web links and other references are provided within each module.

Student Coursework Requirements

30% Exams - 15% each for a mid-term and a final exam
20% Discussions/Participation
50% Compliance Plans - 25% for each of the two required assignments.

Grading Policy

EP uses a +/- grading system (see “Grading System”, Graduate Programs catalog, p. 10).

Academic Policies

Deadlines for Adding, Dropping and Withdrawing from Courses

Students may add a course up to one week after the start of the term for that particular course. Students may drop courses according to the drop deadlines outlined in the EP academic calendar (https://ep.jhu.edu/student-services/academic-calendar/). Between the 6th week of the class and prior to the final withdrawal deadline, a student may withdraw from a course with a W on their academic record. A record of the course will remain on the academic record with a W appearing in the grade column to indicate that the student registered and withdrew from the course.

Academic Misconduct Policy

All students are required to read, know, and comply with the Johns Hopkins University Krieger School of Arts and Sciences (KSAS) / Whiting School of Engineering (WSE) Procedures for Handling Allegations of Misconduct by Full-Time and Part-Time Graduate Students.

This policy prohibits academic misconduct, including but not limited to the following: cheating or facilitating cheating; plagiarism; reuse of assignments; unauthorized collaboration; alteration of graded assignments; and unfair competition. Course materials (old assignments, texts, or examinations, etc.) should not be shared unless authorized by the course instructor. Any questions related to this policy should be directed to EP’s academic integrity officer at ep-academic-integrity@jhu.edu.

Students with Disabilities - Accommodations and Accessibility

Johns Hopkins University values diversity and inclusion. We are committed to providing welcoming, equitable, and accessible educational experiences for all students. Students with disabilities (including those with psychological conditions, medical conditions and temporary disabilities) can request accommodations for this course by providing an Accommodation Letter issued by Student Disability Services (SDS). Please request accommodations for this course as early as possible to provide time for effective communication and arrangements.

For further information or to start the process of requesting accommodations, please contact Student Disability Services at Engineering for Professionals, ep-disability-svcs@jhu.edu.

Student Conduct Code

The fundamental purpose of the JHU regulation of student conduct is to promote and to protect the health, safety, welfare, property, and rights of all members of the University community as well as to promote the orderly operation of the University and to safeguard its property and facilities. As members of the University community, students accept certain responsibilities which support the educational mission and create an environment in which all students are afforded the same opportunity to succeed academically. 

For a full description of the code please visit the following website: https://studentaffairs.jhu.edu/policies-guidelines/student-code/

Classroom Climate

JHU is committed to creating a classroom environment that values the diversity of experiences and perspectives that all students bring. Everyone has the right to be treated with dignity and respect. Fostering an inclusive climate is important. Research and experience show that students who interact with peers who are different from themselves learn new things and experience tangible educational outcomes. At no time in this learning process should someone be singled out or treated unequally on the basis of any seen or unseen part of their identity. 
 
If you have concerns in this course about harassment, discrimination, or any unequal treatment, or if you seek accommodations or resources, please reach out to the course instructor directly. Reporting will never impact your course grade. You may also share concerns with your program chair, the Assistant Dean for Diversity and Inclusion, or the Office of Institutional Equity. In handling reports, people will protect your privacy as much as possible, but faculty and staff are required to officially report information for some cases (e.g. sexual harassment).

Course Auditing

When a student enrolls in an EP course with “audit” status, the student must reach an understanding with the instructor as to what is required to earn the “audit.” If the student does not meet those expectations, the instructor must notify the EP Registration Team [EP-Registration@exchange.johnshopkins.edu] in order for the student to be retroactively dropped or withdrawn from the course (depending on when the "audit" was requested and in accordance with EP registration deadlines). All lecture content will remain accessible to auditing students, but access to all other course material is left to the discretion of the instructor.