Let’s say you developed a new technology or, perhaps, a new chemical compound. Or better yet, you are putting in a new power plant or a waste treatment plant in Singapore. Can you guarantee that it is safe for the environment and the ecosystem? Have you considered the potential risks and impacts on organism, ecosystem, and environmental levels? Did you know that risks and impacts are assessed differently across the country? Let’s think carefully before we develop, implement, and disseminate!

This course is designed for graduate level students to learn the current practices, processes, and application of 1) environmental impact and 2) ecological risk assessments. Both environmental impact and ecological risk assessments are relatively non-scientific and highly interdisciplinary even though they rely on scientific evidence to help make management and regulatory decisions. The process of these assessments is filled with scientific uncertainties, often leading to contentious disagreements. The students in this course will learn how risks and impacts are tested, evaluated, utilized, regulated, communicated, and monitored on various biological and ecological levels. These concepts will then be reinforced by global case studies that draw upon historical examples, contemporary topics, and peer-reviewed scientific literature to ensure that the students can identify issues and uncertainties in the process and recognize assessments that are scientifically-grounded. The ultimate goal of this course is to ensure that the students can apply their own research or topics of interest to predict, characterize, and quantify risks and impacts.

None

Grading components are divided into 3 parts.
1) 10%: Attendance and in-class participation on case study discussions
2) 25%: First midterm on environmental impact assessment composed of multiple choices, short answer questions, and short essay questions
3) 25%: Second midterm on ecological risk assessment composed of multiple choices, short answer questions, and short essay questions
4) 40%: One final individual or group presentation (depending on the number of registered students in the course) on a topic of your choice related to the course

Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment
http://www.epa.gov/raf/publications/pdfs/ECOTXTBX.PDF
Environmental Assessments
http://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/cfm/ecologic.cfm
Environmental Assessments: Ecological Guidelines
http://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/cfm/nceaguid_ecological.cfm
Guidelines for ERA (multiple resources)
http://www.epa.gov/raf/publications/guidelines-ecological-risk-assessment.htm
Region 5 Superfund ERA 8 step process
http://www.epa.gov/region5superfund/ecology/html/8stepera.html
Region 5 Superfund, ERA and the Ecological Technical Center
http://www.epa.gov/region5superfund/ecology/index.html
Stressor Identification Guidance Document
http://www.epa.gov/raf/publications/stressor-identification-guidance.htm
GEF guidance on emerging chemicals
https://www.thegef.org/sites/default/files/publications/GEF_Guidance_on_Emerging_Chemicals-Full-Report_0.pdf

Week 1
• Introduction
• Origin of Environmental Impact & Ecological Risk Assessments

Week 2: Environmental Impact Assessment
• The process overview
• Defining & screening for initial environmental impact evaluation
• A case study introduction

Week 3: Environmental Impact Assessment
• Scoping the potential environmental problem
• Identifying stakeholders involved
• Ways to conduct feasibility tests
• Following up on the case study to define, screen, scope the problem and identify key stakeholders

Week 4: Environmental Impact Assessment
• Predicting and mitigating environmental impacts in the face of uncertainties
• Preparing a draft of environmental impact assessment/statement
• Following up again on the case study to draft up an environmental impact assessment in class

Week 5: Environmental Impact Assessment
• Managing, communicating & monitoring environmental impacts
• A case of failed and successful examples of communicating and monitoring impacts

Week 6: Environmental Impact Assessment
• Application of environmental impact assessments in new scientific & engineering disciplines

Week 7: Environmental Impact Assessment
• Review
• Midterm #1

Week 8: Ecological Risk Assessment
• The process overview
• Defining risks and uncertainties

Week 9: Ecological Risk Assessment
• Problem formulation
• A case study introduction

Week 10: Ecological Risk Assessment
• Exposure assessment
• Following up on the case study to formulate problem and assess exposure

Week 11: Ecological Risk Assessment
• Hazard characterization
• Following up on the case study to characterize hazard

Week 12: Ecological Risk Assessment
• Risk characterization
• Following up on the case study to characterize risk & address uncertainties

Week 13: Ecological Risk Assessment
• Practices and processes of ecological risk assessments around the world
• Understanding the social & economic & political concepts behind risk assessments

Week 14: Ecological Risk Assessment
• Review
• Midterm #2

Week 15: Presentations

Week 16: Presentations

Tuesday: lecture
Thursday: case study discussion

The concepts learned during the class are expected to be utilized and applied actively through case study discussions.
Through in-class presentations, the students are then expected to bring together the skills and understanding to solve a real-world issue.