Spring 2026
Environmental Regulations Overview
1 Syllabus - Environmental Regulations Overview (EPCT 1305) CREDIT 3 semester credit hours (3 hour lecture) MODE OF INSTRUCTION Face to Face. Thursday 5.30pm – 8.00pm PREREQUISITE/CO-REQUISITE: Passed the writing portion of TSI or other accepted testing instrument. COURSE DESCRIPTION An introduction to the history of the environmental movement, including basic requirements for compliance with the environmental regulations. COURSE OBJECTIVES Upon completion of the course the student will be able to: 1. Explain the historical impact of environmental regulations. 2. Identify the agencies that administer various environmental regulations. 3. Classify waste streams, and identify notification requirements for regulatory compliance. INSTRUCTOR CONTACT INFORMATION Instructor: Rueben Reyes Email: rreyes@lit.edu Office Phone: 409 247 5283 Office Location: MPC 239 Office Hours: Monday – Thursday 2.00-5.00pm. Friday 11.00am-12.00pm (Appointment Recommended). REQUIRED TEXTBOOK AND MATERIALS 1. The ABCs of Environmental Regulation, 3rd Edition, Albert I. Telsey. ISBN number; 978-1-59888-725-9 2. USB Flashdrive. ATTENDANCE POLICY This is an attendance based class. Attendance is required for all scheduled lectures and activities. Attendance and participation account for 10% of the overall class grade (as shown in course evaluation). 3% points will be deducted from your overall grade (up to a maximum of 10%) for each unexcused absence. An excused absence will only be granted if the student provides a written justification (for example, by email) which is vetted and approved by the instructor (such as a sickness/injury, or job related requirement). If the student is applying for a job related excused absence documentation must be provided from their employer, including their supervisor’s contact information. A sick note from a Doctor or hospital is required for long term sickness/injury. DROP POLICY If you wish to drop a course, you are responsible for initiating and completing the drop process. If you stop coming to class and fail to drop the course, you will earn an “F” in the course. COURSE CALENDAR DATE TOPIC READINGS (Due on this Date) ASSIGNMENTS (Due on this Date) Week 1 1/22/26 Introduction, Expectations, and Policies. Development of an Environmental Regulation Week 1 Powerpoint Week 2 1/29/26 National Perspective, Chronology and History, Waste Streams and Pollution Prevention, US Code, Delegation, Environmental Agencies Week 2 Powerpoint Week 3 2/5/26 Air Quality (Air Pollution), Noise Control Abatement Week 3 Powerpoint Week 4 2/12/26 Water Quality 1 (Pollution, Drinking Water) Week 4 Powerpoint Week 5 2/19/26 Exam 1 (2/20/25) Followed by Water Quality 2 (Spills and Dumping, Shore Protection) Week 5 Powerpoint Exam 1 On Week 1 – 4 Material 2/19/26 Week 6 2/26/26 Solid Waste and Hazardous Waste with an Emphasis on Waste Streams Week 6 Powerpoint Week 7 3/5/26 Solid & Hazardous Waste (continued), and Storage Tanks Week 7 Powerpoint Week 8 SPRING BREAK (NO CLASSES) Week 9 3/19/26 Safety (Workplace, Chemicals/Pesticides, Land Mining, Nuclear Safety) Week 9 Powerpoint Outline of Proposal for Class Presentation to be submitted in writing on 3/19/26 Week 10 3/26/26 Exam 2 (3/26/26) Followed by Contaminant Releases (Notices, Spills, Cleanup, Asbestos) Week 10 Powerpoint Exam 2 On Week 5 – 9 Material 3/26/26 Week 11 4/2/26 Contaminant Releases (Notices, Spills, Cleanup, and Asbestos) continued. Commence Class Presentations of Selected Topics (4/2/26) Week 11 Powerpoint Commence Class Presentations of Selected Topics (4/2/26) Week 12 4/9/26 Natural Resources (Ecosystems, Species, Marine) Class Presentations of Selected Topics (4/9/26) Week 12 Powerpoint Class Presentations of Selected Topics (4/9/26) NOTE: LIT Professional Development Day, but this evening class will meet as usual. Week 13 4/16/26 Natural Resources (Marine, Land/Soil, Water/Wetlands) Class Presentations of Selected Topic (4/16/26) Week 13 Powerpoint Class Presentations of Selected Topic (4/16/26) Week 14 4/23/26 Regulatory Agencies and Jurisdictions. Class Presentations of Selected Topic (4/23/26) Week 14 Powerpoint Class Presentations of Selected Topic (4/23/26) Week 15 4/30/26 Exam 3 (4/30/26). Followed by Class Presentations of Selected Topic. Exam 3 On Week 10 – 14 Material 4/30/26. Class Presentations of Selected Topic (4/30/26) Week 16 5/7/26 Comprehensive Final Exam (5/7/26). Followed by conclusion of Class Presentations of Selected Topic. Comprehensive Final Exam (5/7/26). Followed by conclusion of Class Presentations of Selected Topic. ***Due Dates and/or Assignments are subject to change*** COURSE EVALUATION Final grades will be calculated according to the following criteria: 1. Class Attendance and Participation 10% 2. Three Class Tests (3 x 20%) 60% 3. Class Presentation of Selected Topic/Instrument 10% 4. Final Exam 20% GRADE SCALE • 90-100 A • 80-89 B • 70-79 C • 60-69 D • 0-59 F TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS The latest technical requirements, including hardware, compatible browsers, operating systems, etc. can be online at https://lit.edu/online-learning/online-learning-minimum-computer-requirements. A functional broadband internet connection, such as DSL, cable, or WiFi is necessary to maximize the use of online technology and resources. DISABILITIES STATEMENT The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 are federal anti-discrimination statutes that provide comprehensive civil rights for persons with disabilities. LIT provides reasonable accommodations as defined in the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, to students with a diagnosed disability. The Special Populations Office is located in the Eagles’ Nest Room 129 and helps foster a supportive and inclusive educational environment by maintaining partnerships with faculty and staff, as well as promoting awareness among all members of the Lamar Institute of Technology community. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Special Populations Coordinator at (409)-951-5708 or email specialpopulations@lit.edu. You may also visit the online resource at Special Populations - Lamar Institute of Technology (lit.edu). STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT STATEMENT It is the responsibility of all registered Lamar Institute of Technology students to access, read, understand and abide by all published policies, regulations, and procedures listed in the LIT Catalog and Student Handbook. The LIT Catalog and Student Handbook may be accessed at www.lit.edu. Please note that the online version of the LIT Catalog and Student Handbook supersedes all other versions of the same document. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE STATEMENT Lamar Institute of Technology (LIT) recognizes the recent advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI), such as ChatGPT, have changed the landscape of many career disciplines and will impact many students in and out of the classroom. To prepare students for their selected careers, LIT desires to guide students in the ethical use of these technologies and incorporate AI into classroom instruction and assignments appropriately. Appropriate use of these technologies is at the discretion of the instructor. Students are reminded that all submitted work must be their own original work unless otherwise specified. Students should contact their instructor with any questions as to the acceptable use of AI/ChatGPT in their courses. STARFISH LIT utilizes an early alert system called Starfish. Throughout the semester, you may receive emails from Starfish regarding your course grades, attendance, or academic performance. Faculty members record student attendance, raise flags and kudos to express concern or give praise, and you can make an appointment with faculty and staff all through the Starfish home page. You can also login to Blackboard or MyLIT and click on the Starfish link to view academic alerts and detailed information. It is the responsibility of the student to pay attention to these emails and information in Starfish and consider taking the recommended actions. Starfish is used to help you be a successful student at LIT. Course Requirements and Policies 1. All exams are worth 100 points. All exam questions are included in lecture materials and discussed in class. 2. In the event of an emergency and you are absent on test night, it is your responsibility to contact the instructor and schedule a makeup test as soon as possible. 3. Final grades are non-negotiable. No extra credit will be awarded. 4. Cheating on an exam is a violation of LIT Policy and will result in an “F” on your test. Please review the “Code of Conduct & Disciplinary Policy” and “Academic Dishonesty” in the LIT Student Handbook. 5. It is your responsibility to sign the attendance roster. No one else may sign the roll on your behalf. Please notify your Occupational Health and Safety Advisor if you will be absent for an extended period due to a work-related circumstance, or a medical quarantine or emergency, that prevents you from attending class. Your Occupational Safety and Health Advisor will authorize excused absences. 6. You are expected to be in class at class time. If you do find yourself in the position of arriving late due to unavoidable circumstances, please remember to sign the attendance roster when you arrive. Some lectures are short in length and coming in late may result in an absence. 7. You are required to stay the entire length of each lecture class unless dismissed, as a class, by the instructor. 8. Drop/Add/Withdraw – It is the student’s responsibility to make sure you are officially enrolled or dropped from this course. If at any point you decide to drop a class, it is your responsibility to officially drop (i.e., using proper administrative offices/paperwork.) Any student who stops attending class and does not officially drop the course will be given an “F” as the semester grade. 9. Cell phones, headphones and any other electronic communication devices will always be turned off in class . 10. Campus policy dictates there is to be no eating , drinking or tobacco products in the classroom. 11. Please do not bring children to class. LIT policy states they cannot be in the classrooms. 12. CLASS MATERIALS NEEDED: • Laptop (if you have one) • Pen/Pencil • Paper or Note Cards for note taking • Highlighter 13. MISSED EXAM: If you are absent on exam day you MUST let the instructor know PRIOR to class either by phone or email. The missed exam MUST be made up the FOLLOWING DAY. Failure to schedule a make up time with your instructor will forfeit your opportunity to take that exam. IT IS THE STUDENTS RESPONSIBILITY TO REACH OUT TO THE INSTRUCTOR FOR THE ABSENCE AND MAKE UP TIME. If the student fails to make up the exam in the appropriate time frame then they will receive a (0) ZERO for that exam. 14. CLASS ATTENDANCE/PARTICIPATION: Students are REQUIRED to participate in class discussions, work in groups, give verbal presentations and communicate in a professional manner. Failure to participate will result in points being deducted for that class day grade for attendance & participation.