ENR 2040 Environmental Regulatory Agencies

This course introduces the primary federal and state agencies that regulate energy industry activities impacting natural resources in Wyoming. Foundational review of governmental structure and Wyoming land ownership will be followed by detailing the identity, roles and respective responsibilities and authority of the primary environmental regulatory agencies in Wyoming. Agencies discussed include the Environmental Protection Agency, Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, Bureau of Land Management, Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, and others. Agency knowledge will be applied to Wyoming case studies. (1 lect.)

Credits

1 credits

Transfer Status

Transferable to UW.

Major Topics

• Land ownership/management history
• Brief review of governmental structure
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
• Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (WDEQ)
• Relationship of EPA to DEQ
• Bureau of Land Management, United States Forest Service
• Wyoming Office of State Lands & Investments
• Wyoming Game & Fish Department (WGFD), United States Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS)
• Wyoming State Engineer’s Office
• Wyoming Oil & Gas Conservation Commission
• Office of Surface Mining Reclamation & Enforcement

Outcomes

In order to successfully complete this course, the student will:

1. Identify the types of land ownership in Wyoming and describe the relevance of land ownership to agency jurisdiction.

2. Explain the legal authority of agencies and their role as the "fourth branch" of government.

3. Describe the EPA’s origin, mission and responsibilities.

4. Describe the WDEQ’s origin, responsibilities and relationship to EPA.

5. Outline the WDEQ’s organizational structure, including Air, Water and Land Quality Divisions.

6. Identify authority and responsibility of WGFD and USFWS in relation to energy industry activities and be able to apply to current issues.

7. Describe the role of Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission.

8. Identify which agencies have jurisdiction on the Wind River Indian Reservation and describe their regulatory roles, including interaction with tribal government and the Wind River Environmental Quality Commission.

9. Explain the role of Wyoming State Engineer’s Office in respect to water quantity regulatory issues, especially as pertains to coal bed methane development.

10. Describe the role of the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation & Enforcement.

11. Apply knowledge of agencies and their interaction with each other to current Wyoming energy industry activities.