6. Marine Food-Chains: Mercury

Environmental Politics and Law (EVST 255)

The military's use of the Puerto Rican island of Vieques as a training site is discussed to highlight the challenges involved in identifying and restoring hazardous sites. Political opposition is faced while attempting to get a site recognized as hazardous, deciding how to compensate those affected, and determining an appropriate level of environmental restoration. The recurring theme of government secrecy and its effect on efforts to protect the environment is also covered during this lecture, as the US military is reluctant to allow researchers to examine testing grounds. The reclamation of these sites involves many environmental statutes, including the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Water Act, the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

00:00 - Chapter 1. Recognizing and Restoring Hazardous Sites
12:25 - Chapter 2. The Problems of Historical Reconstruction at Vieques
19:31 - Chapter 3. Vieques Prior to U.S. Military Takeover
27:04 - Chapter 4. Weaponry and the Island's Changing Landscape
42:15 - Chapter 5. The Consequences of Leasing Out Vieques

Complete course materials are available at the Open Yale Courses website: http://open.yale.edu/courses

This course was recorded in Spring 2010.