• Go over sections on absestos in 40 CFR Part 763 on Asbestos (don't read the whole thing!) - generate a list of what this regulatory document requires
• Go through the documents on asbestos ban and phasepout (there are 4 Federal Register notices and a 1999 clarification document) 

• Look through the links to see what actions EPA and the State have taken at the mine so far, and to see what they might do next

The criminal trial Grace v. U.S. Government, concerning  was chronicled by a University of Montana group, a joint Law School – Journalism School exercise.  We will use this to become familiar with some of the basics of legal cases and especially how scientific evidence (both geological and medical) is presented and evaluated.  The web site is at  http://www.umt.edu/gracecase/about-2-2/index.html, there is a lot there, the following is a guide of pages and topical ideas for you to focus on though I encourage you to look into it in more depth to gain insight on how an environmental legal case works.

First, under the section on “How a criminal trial proceeds” investigate the differences between civil and criminal cases, and the major details and definitions used in the courtroom (including hearsay and rules of evidence, jury selection/function, rules of the courtroom, standard of proof, and the witnesses). 

Next investigate the pretrial legal issues surrounding the Grace case, specifically how the case was framed with respect to the clean air act and contested evidence – scientific contenstation and also Daubert motions regarding selected expert witnesses.  Additionally look at the expert witness section and the arguments those witnesses address.

Now investigate the government and defense legal issues stressed at the trial  - focusing on the major themes both sides will ‘use’ in the trial

Next is a listing of reports on how the trial proceeded day by day – feel free to look into all of it, but focus on the following days and especially focused on trial introduction of scientific evidence:

At the end of every week’s blogging, a weekly review (e.g. Week 3: Four Witnesses finish testifying) is included – this is a good way to see an overview of progress – these can be found in March 5, 12, 20, 29, April 10, 18, May 1

Additionally, parts of specific days have more details on some of the scientific evidence, review:

March 16, 2009 – air sampling cross and winchite vs. tremolite

March 17, 2009 – the hamster study

March 19, 2009 – tremolite counting and ‘binding’ efforts

April 15 – toxicity studies

April 20 – dose responses

April 30 – EPA overestimating risk?

May 6 – closing arguments and jury instruction