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Full-Text Articles in Law

Annual Survey Of Virginia Law: Environmental Law, Kevin J. Finto, Christopher R. Graham, Brooks M. Smith, Penny A. Shamblin Jan 2001

Annual Survey Of Virginia Law: Environmental Law, Kevin J. Finto, Christopher R. Graham, Brooks M. Smith, Penny A. Shamblin

University of Richmond Law Review

Recent developments in environmental law in Virginia continue to reflect several trends. These trends may be grouped into six general categories: (1) the growing tension between federal environmental mandates and their practical implementation through delegated state programs; (2) the continuing debate over the exact definition of "interstate commerce" and the scope of state authority to regulate in the gray area; (3) the impending deregulation of the electrical energy market; (4) the promotion of sustainable development; (5) the developing schism between state and local land use control; and (6) the evolving nature of administrative law in the environmental context. The following …


Environmental Impact Assessment Laws In The Nineties: Can The United States And Mexico Learn From Each Other?, Heather N. Stevenson Jan 1999

Environmental Impact Assessment Laws In The Nineties: Can The United States And Mexico Learn From Each Other?, Heather N. Stevenson

University of Richmond Law Review

The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) was the first major environmental law in the United States. The statute "was devised to establish a comprehensive national policy which would ... guid[e] federal activity and provid[e] for a coordinated, informed approach toward dealing with environmental problems." Since NEPA's enactment, agencies have been "required to prepare environmental analyses, with input from the state and local governments, Indian tribes, the public, and other federal agencies, when considering a proposal for a major federal action." Although most of the environmental impact assessment law in the world is modeled on NEPA and the impact …


From Stockholm To Kyoto And Back To The United States: International Environmental Law's Effect On Domestic Law, Joel B. Eisen Jan 1998

From Stockholm To Kyoto And Back To The United States: International Environmental Law's Effect On Domestic Law, Joel B. Eisen

University of Richmond Law Review

We Americans think we're so darned smart. We invented modern environmental law, developed its sophisticated "command-and-control" structure, got the public involved as never before in fighting corporate polluters, and achieved measurable successes by getting lead out of our air and bald eagles back from near extinction. We've even tried "second generation" tools such as emissions trading systems' and incentive-based regulatory flexibility approaches when we discovered our system's limitations. Not that we've got it all figured out, mind you, but we're inclined to think of ourselves as world leaders when it comes to environmental protection.


Annual Survey Of Virginia Law: Environmental Law, Kelley A. Kinney, Andrea West Wortzel Jan 1998

Annual Survey Of Virginia Law: Environmental Law, Kelley A. Kinney, Andrea West Wortzel

University of Richmond Law Review

This article reviews the key environmental developments at the federal and state levels during the period from June 1996 to June 1998. Legislation and judicial decisions are presented topically. Certain issues, such as public participation and environmental justice, are playing an increasing role and will likely impact all media.


Annual Survey Of Virginia Law: Environmental Law, Henry R. Pollard V. Jan 1996

Annual Survey Of Virginia Law: Environmental Law, Henry R. Pollard V.

University of Richmond Law Review

Federal and Virginia courts and legislatures acted on a wide variety of environmental issues and topics in the June 1995 to June 1996 period. This article reviews the key environmental developments at the federal and state level from that period involving air, water, waste, Superfund, wetlands, and environmentally related constitutional, land use, and property tort law.


A Call For Public Participation In State Voluntary Remediation Programs: Strategies For Promoting Public Involvement Opportunities In Virginia, Stacie A. Craddock Jan 1996

A Call For Public Participation In State Voluntary Remediation Programs: Strategies For Promoting Public Involvement Opportunities In Virginia, Stacie A. Craddock

University of Richmond Law Review

There is a growing environmental problem in the United States with contaminated property which is left abandoned or underused. These properties are commonly known as "brownfields."' The type or extent of the contamination may vary from site to site. The types of waste could include hazardous, solid, or petroleum waste components; and the extent of the contamination may be minimal, severe, or even unknown. In 1995, the Congressional Office of Technology Assessment reported that the number of sites that currently remain contaminated are estimated to range from "tens of thousands to 450,000 sites."


Using Experience To Improve Superfund Remedy Selection, Robert H. Abrams Jan 1995

Using Experience To Improve Superfund Remedy Selection, Robert H. Abrams

University of Richmond Law Review

The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Cleanup, and Liability Act (CERCLA, a.k.a. "Superfund")' has earned its share of criticism, most volubly for the expense and unfairness of its cost allocation scheme, but also for its remedy selection process. In deciding how to remediate sites, CERCLA employs a lengthy formal process that, on average, takes over eight years from site awareness to the selection of a remedy. Less damningly, perhaps, only the last fifty-eight months of that time elapses after the site is scored as one serious enough to be placed on the National Priorities List as a site eligible to receive Superfund …


The Inconsistency Of Virginia's Execution Of The Npdes Permit Program: The Foreclosure Of Citizen Attorneys General From State And Federal Courts, D. Brennen Keene Jan 1995

The Inconsistency Of Virginia's Execution Of The Npdes Permit Program: The Foreclosure Of Citizen Attorneys General From State And Federal Courts, D. Brennen Keene

University of Richmond Law Review

The above mentioned goals and policies of the Clean Water Act suggest that Congress intended to create a partnership between the federal government, state governments, and the public to help abate pollution of the nation's waters. This intent is illustrated by the fact that permits issued to dischargers of pollutants into navigable waters can be issued by either the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or a state agency. Unfortunately, the goal of public involvement is lost in "the confusion caused by this poorly drafted and astonishingly imprecise statute." The resulting inconsistent system forecloses some members of the public from participating in …


Facing A Time Of Counter-Revolution-- The Kepone Incident And A Review Of First Principles, Zygmunt J.B. Plater Jan 1995

Facing A Time Of Counter-Revolution-- The Kepone Incident And A Review Of First Principles, Zygmunt J.B. Plater

University of Richmond Law Review

The Kepone contamination episode of 1966-75 was a milestone that focused an entire nation's attention on environmental hazards and our need to do better in recognizing and avoiding them. We have learned a great deal from that unfortunate story. The evolution of American environmental law since the Kepone debacle has repeatedly used the incident as a touchstone in identifying environmental pollution's causes, effects, and potential solutions.


Changes In The Clean Water Act Since Kepone: Would They Have Made A Difference?, Wiliam Goldfarb Jan 1995

Changes In The Clean Water Act Since Kepone: Would They Have Made A Difference?, Wiliam Goldfarb

University of Richmond Law Review

In the anti-regulatory climate that currently pervades the American political scene, it is important to emphasize the palpable and significant accomplishments of environmental regulation. One measure of the success of environmental law during the past twenty-five years is that long-term, relatively localized environmental contamination-such as the pollution of the lower James River by Kepone between 1966 and 1975-probably can no longer occur in the United States. Major environmental statutes, enacted during the decade between 1976 and 1986, have precluded continuing environmental abuses of this scope and magnitude. The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), enacted in 1976, establishes a compre- …


From Kepone To Exxon Valdez Oil And Beyond: An Overview Of Natural Resource Damage Assessment, Danielle Marie Stager Jan 1995

From Kepone To Exxon Valdez Oil And Beyond: An Overview Of Natural Resource Damage Assessment, Danielle Marie Stager

University of Richmond Law Review

In July 1975, officials from the Virginia State Department of Health learned that employees of the Life Science Product Company ("Life Science"), in Hopewell, Virginia, had been poisoned by a toxic chemical known as Kepone. Life Science had produced Kepone under contract for Allied Chemical Corporation ("Allied Chemical"), the original developer and manufacturer. Shortly thereafter, state officials discovered that both Life Science and Allied Chemical had unlawfully discharged Kepone into freshwater tributaries of the James River. In addition to poisoning their own employees, Life Science and Allied Chemical had also contaminated Virginia's atmosphere, soil, and wa- terways with Kepone.


Indian Tribal Sovereignty And The Environment, Sarah P. Campbell Jan 1993

Indian Tribal Sovereignty And The Environment, Sarah P. Campbell

University of Richmond Law Review

States and Indian tribes alike have compelling reasons for demanding regulatory jurisdiction over the Indian reservations' environments. Proponents of state regulation argue that "[a] state's ability to coordinate a successful and comprehensive hazardous waste management plan depends at least in part on state control of all hazardous waste activity within its borders." In some states, the reservations are not isolated from the activities and residents of the state. In Washington state, for example, some Indian reservations have a high percentage of non-Indian residents, and others contain cities, municipalities, and heavily industrialized areas. This "checkerboard" reservation developed from the federal government's …


Annual Survey Of Virginia Law: Administrative Law, James N. Christman Jan 1992

Annual Survey Of Virginia Law: Administrative Law, James N. Christman

University of Richmond Law Review

This article covers changes made to the Virginia Administrative Process Act (VAPA) during the 1992 session of the General Assembly. It also covers selected recent cases from Virginia courts dealing with state administrative procedure decided between August 30, 1990 and September 17, 1992.


The Availability Of Attorneys' Fees As A Necessary Cost Of Response In Private Cost-Recovery Actions Under Cercla, Heather M. Harvey Jan 1991

The Availability Of Attorneys' Fees As A Necessary Cost Of Response In Private Cost-Recovery Actions Under Cercla, Heather M. Harvey

University of Richmond Law Review

In 1980, Congress enacted the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act ("CERCLA"). Its purpose was to remedy the environmental problems caused by abandoned hazardous waste sites. Prior to 1980, hazardous waste had been regulated primarily by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act ("RCRA") and, to a lesser extent, by the Toxic Substances Control Act ("TSCA"). These statutes focused on the prevention of hazardous waste problems. Consequently, they proved inadequate to deal with the increasing threats posed by existing hazardous waste sites.' Congress drafted CERCLA to fill in the gap left by prior legislation.


Annual Survey Of Virginia Law: Environmental Law, James E. Ryan Jr. Jan 1990

Annual Survey Of Virginia Law: Environmental Law, James E. Ryan Jr.

University of Richmond Law Review

This article addresses significant developments in Virginia law pertaining to air and water pollution, solid and hazardous waste, and environmentally sensitive areas which have occurred between the publication of last year's survey and August 1, 1990.


Legal Issues Affecting Local Governments In Implementing The Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act, W. Todd Benson, Philip O. Garland Jan 1989

Legal Issues Affecting Local Governments In Implementing The Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act, W. Todd Benson, Philip O. Garland

University of Richmond Law Review

A profound chapter in Virginia land use law has begun. The Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act ("CBPA"), passed in 1988, asks localities to look beyond their geographic boundaries and beyond the health and well-being of their citizens, and to exercise their police and zoning powers to protect the quality of state waters. Localities also are asked to cooperate with a new state agency violating the sanctum of the local government land use prerogative.


What's Current In Asbestos Regulations, Janis L. Kirkland Jan 1989

What's Current In Asbestos Regulations, Janis L. Kirkland

University of Richmond Law Review

Asbestos, once valued as a superb insulator, is now recognized as a deadly carcinogen. The United States Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") estimates that 733,000 public and commercial buildings in the United States contain friable asbestos or asbestos-containing materials. Thus, it is not surprising that an avalanche of litigation has resulted from concerns over exposure to asbestos.


Environmental Liens And Title Insurance, Robert S. Bozarth Jan 1989

Environmental Liens And Title Insurance, Robert S. Bozarth

University of Richmond Law Review

Increased concern for the environment and environmental protection laws have affected title insurance. To understand this effect, it is necessary to examine our environmental problems, the environmental laws and the nature of title insurance. This article also looks at the title insurance industry's reaction to these environmental risks as compared to the reaction of the property/casualty insurance industry.


Liabilities Of The Innocent Current Owner Of Toxic Property Under Cercla, Diana L. Mcdavid Jan 1989

Liabilities Of The Innocent Current Owner Of Toxic Property Under Cercla, Diana L. Mcdavid

University of Richmond Law Review

The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 ("CERCLA") was enacted to facilitate prompt cleanup of property contaminated by hazardous wastes. CERCLA seeks to accomplish its goal in part by placing the financial burden of cleanup on those parties who are responsible for the problem and who benefited from the hazardous waste activity. Because environmental cleanup is a national priority and the cost of cleaning up toxic waste sites is staggering, the scope of liability under CERCLA is broad. A clean environment is a laudable goal and compelling responsible parties to bear the cost of cleanup is fair, …


Annual Survey Of Virginia Law: Environmental Law Jan 1988

Annual Survey Of Virginia Law: Environmental Law

University of Richmond Law Review

In the past two years Virginia has seen significant legislative changes in its laws protecting public health and the environment. This article addresses not only those changes, but also the implementation of these laws by the responsible state agencies and the court cases construing those laws.


Waste To Energy: Environmental And Local Government Concerns, Kelly Outten Jan 1985

Waste To Energy: Environmental And Local Government Concerns, Kelly Outten

University of Richmond Law Review

"The problem we are confronting here is immense-literally mountains of trash and garbage." With these words, Representative William S. Moorhead accurately described a current American dilemma-what to do with the four billion tons of solid waste annually produced by Americans. Concurrent with the problem of increasing quantities of waste are the problems of decreasing availability of land fill space and an ever-rising demand for energy. The existence of these problems is leading federal, state, and local governments to take a second look at their municipal solid waste and to realize that "waste is something more than an undesirable by-product of …


Executive Privilege: Historic Scope And Use In The Watergate And Environmental Protection Agency Hearings, Jean M. D'Ovidio Jan 1983

Executive Privilege: Historic Scope And Use In The Watergate And Environmental Protection Agency Hearings, Jean M. D'Ovidio

University of Richmond Law Review

Executive privilege is "a concept invoked by members of the executive branch of the government to justify withholding evidence and other communicative materials from the legislative and judicial branches." Since the presidency of George Washington, the executive has attempted to withhold information from the other two branches.


Nonpoint Pollution Control In Virginia, John V. Cogbill Iii Jan 1979

Nonpoint Pollution Control In Virginia, John V. Cogbill Iii

University of Richmond Law Review

Congress has established a national goal of "clean water" by 1983 and the elimination of all pollutant discharge into the navigable waterways by 1985. The nation has made great strides toward controlling and eliminating point source pollutants. There has been no corresponding progress in the area of nonpoint pollution control. Such pollution from agriculture, mining, silviculture, and urban runoff is causing lakes to die prematurely and is seriously affecting Virginia's fishing industry. This comment will review the federal requirements for control of nonpoint source pollution, Virginia's role in an implementation program, and, finally, some recom- mendations to aid Virginia in …


The Fate Of Non-Compliant Municipalities With Regard To The Secondary Treatment Standards Pursuant To The 1972 Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments- A Problem Of Enforcement, Tom Bondurant Jan 1978

The Fate Of Non-Compliant Municipalities With Regard To The Secondary Treatment Standards Pursuant To The 1972 Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments- A Problem Of Enforcement, Tom Bondurant

University of Richmond Law Review

Water pollution is a dualistic problem which concerns both water quality and adequacy of supply of water. The failure to maintain a certain standard with regard to quality and/or adequacy leads to detrimental effects in such areas as domestic water supply, industrial water supply, agricultural water supply, wildlife watering, propagation of marine life, recreational activities, and aesthetic enjoyment.