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Issue Memo Assignment #2
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Reading:
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| You should read the following article on
reserve in the library and come to class prepared to discuss it. The
reading will also help you prepare the written assignment described
below. Other class readings, videos, handouts, and web sites may
also be of use in preparing your written assignment. |
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 | Issue Memo Assignment #2: "Issue 4: Should Environmental Policy
Attempt to Cure Environmental Racism?" (On reserve) |
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Directions:
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| Imagine
you’re the head of the planning department tasked with finding a site to
build a new sewage plant facility for your county.
After weeks of research, you have
narrowed your search to three possible locations, each of which when
developed has comparable costs: |
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small parcel located in the middle of the community’s central
business and commercial district.
The site is easily
accessible, but not visible due to the parcel's configuration
and the presence of heavy vegetation, this may aid in aesthetics but
not odor.
Given the parcel's size, there would not be room to expand the
facility in the future but it could serve the communities needs for
the next five to ten years. Due
to its location, the site may hinder future commercial development in
the surrounding area. The facility would also occupy land that
could be used for residential or commercial development in the
downtown area and thus would result in a loss of the future tax base. |
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large parcel of land surrounded by land zoned as low
density residential development, mixed use development, and commercial
development.
Given the parcel's size, there would be adequate room to expand the
facility in the future to accommodate additional growth into the
foreseeable future. The
site is currently surrounded by vacant land but new roads, utilities, and
sewers have recently been added to encourage residential and
commercial development. You are aware of several proposals
to build on surrounding parcels including a large 300 unit subdivision
and an upscale shopping mall with several surrounding restaurants
and box stores. It is unclear what effect locating a large
sewage treatment plant will have on surrounding land values or current
development proposals. |
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medium size parcel that was once used as a waste disposal site and is highly
visible from major roads and is somewhat
smaller than desired. Given its size, the facility could be
expanded to accommodate growth over the next 20 to 30 years. There will be some added cost of cleaning
up the old waste disposal site, otherwise this would be significantly
cheaper than the other two options. The site is
surrounded mostly by an industrial park and some light manufacturing
and industry. However, there are several large housing projects
serving a mostly low income and minority populations nearby, There is
also a large government housing project nearby. |
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Mayor has asked you to critique each site and forward your recommendation
on which site the City should purchase. Be sure to include your
rationale in your response. |
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Format of the Written Assignment
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| This assignment should take the form of a memo. It is limited to 2 single-spaced, 12 point font pages, with 1 inch margins and must
be in a standard memo format. A sample of an
acceptable memo format is available for download and most word processing software has
templates for memos. The reason that a memo format is required is that it is the
standard means of communication in the world of business and government. Thus, these
memo assignments will help you to develop your ability to analyze policy questions and to
think, act, and communicate more effectively about environmental issues and problems. |
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Grading
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| Your memo should answer the question posed and be argumentative in nature.
There is no one "right" answer. Instead, you will be graded on the
strength and organization of your arguments as well as the quality of your writing.
You may introduce any facts and evidence you wish to support your arguments. If
you are unfamiliar with how to write a memo please arrange to see me or my
graduate assistant during office hours for assistance. |
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