Environmental Policy and Regulation

ES 232

Spring 2004

 

 

 

 

Name______________________

                                              (please print)

 

 

Midterm Examination

March 19, 2004

 

Instructions:  The examination is CLOSED BOOK, CLOSED NOTE.  Please answer the questions in the space provided, and return it to me at the end of the class period.  Please sign the pledge below if appropriate.

 

 

HAVE A GREAT SPRING BREAK!

 

 

 

 

 

 

I pledge my honor that on this examination I have neither given nor received assistance and that I have seen no dishonest work.

 

Signed:____________________________________

 

(Check if appropriate) o I have intentionally  left the pledge blank.

 

 

Part I: Definitions and Descriptions (8 points each)

 

Please provide a brief (1- to 3- sentence) definition or description of 5 of the following 10 terms as they apply to the field of environmental policy.   I will grade the first 5 answers you provide; you will not get extra credit for answering more than 5.

 

  1. Multiple Use Sustained Yield

 

 

  1. Regulatory takings

 

 

  1. Public goods

 

 

  1. Critical habitat

 

 

  1. Commerce power

 

 

  1. Legislative delegation

 

 

  1. Standing

 

 

  1. Criteria pollutants

 

 

  1. Non-point source pollution

 

 

  1. Cradle-to-grave regulation

 

 

Part II: Essays (20 points each)

In the space below, please provide an essay responding to the topic and questions below.  Your essay will be graded on both the strength of your arguments, as well as on the breadth and depth of relevant information you are able to provide.

 

  1. Compare the Maximum Contaminant Levels of the Safe Drinking Water Act to the National Ambient Air Quality Standards of the Clean Air Act.  What environmental objective(s) does each attempt to achieve?  What are some of the striking differences in their regulatory goals?  How might you explain those differences?

    2.
  2. What is a “cap-and-trade” program? Can you give an example of one?  What are the relative strengths and weaknesses of such an approach to pollution regulation? Is such an approach to pollution regulation more desirable for releases into some media (land, water and air) than others?  Explain.

    3.
  3. Environmentalists are sometimes portrayed as “tree huggers” who care more for the non-human elements of the ecosystem than for their own species.  Consider the major environmental legislation enacted in the United States.  Insofar as environmentalists deserve the credit for molding and enacting these laws, do they earn their tree-hugger appellation?  You will want to consider which laws reflect biocentric values, and which reflect anthropocentric values.

 

 

 

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