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=FOR784 The Practice of Environmental Impact Assessment=

Gary B. Blank, Ph.D.

Office Location 5229 Jordan Hall Office Hours Wednesday 1330 – 1530, Thursday and Friday 1030 – 1200 Phone 919.515.7566 e-mail gary_blank@ncsu.edu

Catalog Description
Impact assessment principles, practices and their evolution. Lectures and field practicums concerning problems addressed by environmental assessment practitioners. Practical applications of current regulatory requirements, especially concerning endangered species and wetlands, as they affect environmental practitioners’ performance. Required reports combine varied technical tasks and documentation for regulatory process review.

**Objectives**

(1) Demonstrate the breadth of experience and depth of understanding practitioners need to accomplish environmental assessment tasks;

(2) Identify participants in planning and regulatory processes associated with typical development-related projects and consider their roles and perspectives;

(3) Identify the standard information sources and data gathering techniques basic to describing natural communities and their components;

(4) Familiarize students with the range of analytic tools appropriate for answering questions relevant to alternative selection;

(5) Create understanding of the professional obligations and level of effort required within the existing decision making framework.

**Grade Allocation**: This course will be graded using + and - modifiers. A+ = 98-100; A = 94-97; A- = 90-93; B+ = 87-89; B = 83-86; B- = 80-82; C+ = 77-79; C = 73-76; C- = 70-72; D+ = 67-69; D = 63-66; D- = 60-62; F = below 59

__Reading reviews and seminar participation__: ten weeks each student will submit a written precis/review/critique of a report, article or book chapter from pertinent policy or science literature. These articles or papers will come from the syllabus or can be other works directly tied to the week’s topic. Seminar sessions depend on active discussion of readings and issues raised.

__Independent project and presentation__: each student will be expected to develop an analysis demonstrating applicability of chosen areas of expertise or study to furthering goals and practices evolving from the broad definition of EIA effort. As we will discuss, environmental impact assessment includes many types of studies and issues under the broad scope defined by the NEPA. Each student will perform an appropriate task toward completion of personal graduate program requirements. A brief proposal of project and annotated bibliography will be required.

__Participation and contribution to course project__: this class will develop a management plan and EA scoping report for the Lake Raleigh Woods Preserve. All class members will contribute efforts as discovered and defined in the process, and those efforts will be peer reviewed.

__Course Concept Map__: the final exam in the course will consist of a map accompanied by a prose explanation.

__Grade Components of FOR784 %__ Reading reviews and seminar participation (10) 50 Participation in and contribution to course project 25 Independent project and presentation 15 Course concept map (due during final exam) 10

**Incomplete Grades** will not be given without substantial documentation of conditions that interfere with satisfactory completion of work within the semester limits. If allowed, any Incomplete Grade will carry a specific time limitation and definite statement of work required.

**Absences**: Unexcused absences from scheduled class activities are cause for lowering grades. **Academic Integrity**: reference is made to the NC State Code of Student Conduct: []student_discipline /POL11.35.1-archiveasof9-18-98.php Statement for students with disabilities : "Reasonable accommodations will be made for students with verifiable disabilities. In order to take advantage of available accommodations, students must register with Disability Services for Students at 1900 Student Health Center, Campus Box 7509, 515-7653. http://www.ncsu.edu/provost/offices/affirm_action/dss/ For more information on NC State's policy on working with students with disabilities, please see the Academic Accommodations for Students with Disabilities Regulation ( [] ).  **Safety**: Because this course involves field work, all students are required to dress in attire that will prevent exposure to needless injury. Footwear is of particular concern where poisonous and thorny plants, venomous snakes, and uneven terrain all pose hazards. Sunscreen and insect repellent are highly recommended and students not choosing to use these protective materials are advised that they are at risk during the early part of the semester. =Welcome to Your New Wiki!=

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