ENVH 584 Spring Quarter 2012
OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH: POLICY AND POLITICS
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Assignments:
Assignment #1: Briefing memo
Each student will identify a current environmental or occupational health issue to follow for the quarter. For the first graded assignment students will write a Briefing Memo on their selected topic. The memo is to be addressed to the leadership of an organization or stakeholder group of the student's choosing. The memo should be framed as if you are a member of the organization, it should be objective and concise (not to exceed 3 pages) yet with sufficient detail so that your boss can make an informed decision about whether or not the organization should get involved with your issue. Briefing Memo topics are to be submitted by April 4th, the Briefing memo is due April 16th, and will be presented and discussed in class on April 30th.
Elements to include in a Briefing Memo:
- Name of your organization, your title within the organization, and the title of your boss (e.g., Environmental Working Group, staff support for the Director Legislative Affairs; or Senate Health Education Labor and Pensions Committee, Legislative Assistant for workforce issues, Senator Lisa Murkowski)
- Description of the issue or problem, with particular emphasis on human health impacts
- Background of the problem
- Current regulatory or other remedies and their strengths and imitations
- A suggested policy position with pros and cons and including impact on key stakeholders
- Discussion of the scientific principles or data supporting the possible policy position
- Your recommendation(s)
- Additional details may be included as appendices
Here are some possible issue ideas, but you are strongly encouraged to identify a problem of interest to you:
- Chemical use policies and implications for workers or consumers
- Nanotechnology and environmental or occupational health implications
- Global supply chain issues and worker health and safety
- Combustible dust explosions and worker health and safety
- Coal fired power plants and community air quality
- Fish or shellfish farming and the effect on human and environmental health
Assignment #2: Op-Ed Piece
Students will write an Op-Ed piece on their selected topic for a hard copy or 'e' news outlet. The Op-Ed piece should include a 'call to action' and cannot exceed 1,000 words. The Op-Ed piece is due April 30th.
Example: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2014259704_guest18frumkin.html
Assignment #3: Environmental and occupational statute review
Each student will select one environmental or occupational statute for exploration and summarization.
Things to include in the statute investigation and presentation are:
- the official title for the statute and CFR citation,
- the agency that is responsible for implementing the statute,
- a brief history of what lead to the statute, including stakeholders and their point of view,
- main elements of the statute,
- its strengths and weaknesses,
- important court decisions or other precedents have influenced its implementation
- current status or next steps for addressing the problems covered by the statue.
The title of the selected statute must be submitted by April 23th and the statute review will be presented and discussed in class on either May 14th or 16th. Hard copy handouts or digital links of the summary document(s) are much appreciated by class members.
Assignment #4: Congressional Testimony
Each student will prepare written (eight to ten pages) and oral (five to ten minutes) testimony for presentation at a mock Congressional hearing. Testimony will be based on an environmental or occupational health issue currently under consideration by federal or state policy makers.
Testimony should include a background of the problem or issue (including human health impacts), the scientific basis for your recommended policy position, and the desired Congressional action on the issue. Oral testimony will be given to selected members of the Committee, after which the student will respond to questions. Written testimony is to be submitted to Committee staff at least 24 hours before the hearing.
Example: see class website for David Michaels testimony at a 2007 Senate hearing
