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Full-Text Articles in Law
Nationwide Permit 12 And Domestic Oil Pipelines: An Incompatible Relationship?, Alexander S. Arkfeld
Nationwide Permit 12 And Domestic Oil Pipelines: An Incompatible Relationship?, Alexander S. Arkfeld
Washington Law Review
As climate change’s momentum becomes increasingly more difficult to quell, environmentalists are litigating to stop oil pipeline expansion. Litigation over two recently completed oil pipelines—the Flanagan South and the Gulf Coast—illustrates the legal battle environmentalists face. Given the outcome of those cases, it may seem that environmentalists face insurmountable judicial precedent. But they are not out of options quite yet. Although no statute expressly requires the federal government to conduct environmental analysis of proposed domestic oil pipelines, two statutes—the Clean Water Act (CWA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)—generally work in tandem to require the U.S. Army Corps of …
Is The "Act Of God" Dead?, Clifford J. Villa
Is The "Act Of God" Dead?, Clifford J. Villa
Washington Journal of Environmental Law & Policy
In more than twenty years with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) before joining the legal academy, I saw many communities affected by fires, floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, and other natural disasters. However, I never saw a case where the act of God defense prevailed against environmental liability. Confirming this personal experience, I later learned that the number of reported cases where the act of God defense had prevailed against environmental liability, under all statutes and all federal circuits, was also exactly zero. This raises two obvious questions: (1) why does the act of God defense so often fail? and (2) …
The Internationalization Of Climate Damages Litigation, Michael Byers, Kelsey Franks, Andrew Gage
The Internationalization Of Climate Damages Litigation, Michael Byers, Kelsey Franks, Andrew Gage
Washington Journal of Environmental Law & Policy
The annual global costs of climate change in 2010 were estimated at nearly $700 billion. As the costs continue to escalate, discussion is necessarily shifting to who should pay for mitigation and adaption. Many scholars argue that policy considerations and principles of tort law support holding greenhouse gas producers responsible for the costs of climate change. However, legal claims against greenhouse gas producers in the United States have thus far proven unsuccessful. This Article explores two previously overlooked potentialities that could significantly and rapidly alter the landscape for climate change litigation: (1) the emergence of transnational climate change litigation coupled …
Ocean Acidification Policy: Applying The Lessons Of Washington To California And Beyond, Ryan P. Kelly
Ocean Acidification Policy: Applying The Lessons Of Washington To California And Beyond, Ryan P. Kelly
Washington Journal of Environmental Law & Policy
This Article aims to distill the lessons of Washington’s experience with ocean acidification (OA) policy and apply them to the political framework that exists in California. More generally, this Article evaluates the political landscape in which OA policy is taking shape along the west coast of the United States and highlights elements of a political and policy strategy that would build current momentum on OA in California and elsewhere into a larger, more sustained policy infrastructure capable of addressing coastal issues of environmental resilience and water quality in the context of global change. It concludes by identifying some ways in …
Arctic Law & Policy Year In Review: 2016, Arctic Law & Policy Institute, University Of Washington
Arctic Law & Policy Year In Review: 2016, Arctic Law & Policy Institute, University Of Washington
Washington Journal of Environmental Law & Policy
According to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, with a boost by El Niño, 2016 set new records for global temperatures, capping three consecutive years of record global warming. In Alaska, for example, the average temperature was 31.9 degrees Fahrenheit — 5.9 degrees above the long-term average. The globally averaged sea surface temperature was the highest on record at 1.35° F above average. The globally averaged land surface temperature was also the highest on record at 2.57° F above average. The NOAA report records that in 2016 the Arctic experienced some of its highest air temperatures, least sea-ice (averaging …
The Fight For Green Economies: The Role Of Sustainable Development In Nations Facing Turmoil, Lucy K. Infeld
The Fight For Green Economies: The Role Of Sustainable Development In Nations Facing Turmoil, Lucy K. Infeld
Washington International Law Journal
The international focus on sustainable development, and lessening the damage to our environment, can be seen in numerous international conventions and the laws of many individual countries. While most countries around the world have attempted some action to lessen the impact of global warming, not all of these efforts have been successful. Notably, Syria created numerous legal reforms aimed at sustainable development, but has had difficulty implementing these reforms. Contrarily, Morocco, a country with similar climate and obstacles in implementing sustainable development has had great success. A question remains as to whether the lack of implementation of sustainable development practices …
Garbage Day: Will Italy Finally Take Out Its Trash In The Land Of Fires?, Jason A. Slaybaugh
Garbage Day: Will Italy Finally Take Out Its Trash In The Land Of Fires?, Jason A. Slaybaugh
Washington International Law Journal
The illegal dumping and burning of waste and toxic waste in southern Italy has caused such immense environmental damage that the disaster is now known as “Italy’s Chernobyl”. In early 2014, the Italian Senate passed the Land of Fires Decree, a sweeping new law aimed at solving a problem that Italy has historically failed to adequately address. Despite the broad grants of power and the new crime created, the lack of political will renders these new tools useless and means little will likely change. Italy can no longer put this fire out by itself. As such, Italy should look to …