Topic 1:Toxics Release Inventory

Go to the Toxics Release Inventory homepage at the EPA website.

United States Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.).Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) Program.Retrieved fromhttp://www2.epa.gov/toxics-release-inventory-tri-program

Scroll down to the section titledLearn About Toxic Chemicals in Your Community. On the top of the page, enter your ZIP code (or a local one) and generate a report on nearby facilities to see what chemicals are being discharged. Share your findings with your classmates and discuss why you think such information is an important aspect of environmental management.

Additionally, discuss the nature of the discharge and the length of time that the chemical was being discharged. Additionally, review the examples below concerning C8 and selenium. Why do you think these types of discharges occurred over such a long period of time? What can be done to ensure that these types of discharges are eliminated in the future?

Topic 2:Use of Litigation to Enforce Environmental Regulations

One aspect of environmental regulation has been the litigation by environmental groups and other stakeholders to ensure that government agencies such as the EPA enforce their regulations and pass regulations that will be stringent in their requirements on regulated entities. Review the following resources regarding the use of litigation and the administrative process of environmental regulations and discuss whether you believe the system is fair in the implementation of environmental regulations or if it is slow and bureaucratic. Additionally, discuss how the use of litigation and appeals of agency actions are, or are not, more effective for environmental groups than other means such as grassroots efforts and protests.

United States Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.).The basics of the regulatory process.Retrieved fromhttp://www2.epa.gov/laws-regulations/basics-regulatory-process

United States Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.).Office of Administrative Law Judges.Retrieved fromhttp://www.epa.gov/oalj

United States Government Accountability Office. (2014, December).Environmental litigation: Impact of deadline suits on EPA's rulemaking is limited.Report to congressional requesters. Retrieved fromhttp://search.ebscohost.com.lib.kaplan.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=f5h&AN=100458276&site=eds-live