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Full-Text Articles in Environmental Law

Drugs On Tap: Managing Pharmaceuticals In Our Nation’S Waters, Gabriel Eckstein Nov 2015

Drugs On Tap: Managing Pharmaceuticals In Our Nation’S Waters, Gabriel Eckstein

Gabriel Eckstein

Pharmaceuticals in the environment and public water supplies are believed to have serious impacts on human and environmental health. Current research suggests that exposure to certain drugs and their residues may result in a variety of adverse human health effects. Other studies more conclusively show that even minute concentrations of pharmaceuticals in the environment can have detrimental effects on aquatic and terrestrial species. Unfortunately, the cost of removing these pernicious substances is out of the financial reach of most municipalities and wastewater and drinking water treatment operators.Despite the concerns, little effort has been made to develop broad management, mitigatory, or …


The Bubble Concept In Water Pollution Control, Emily Sherwin Feb 2015

The Bubble Concept In Water Pollution Control, Emily Sherwin

Emily L Sherwin

No abstract provided.


The Paper Tiger Gets Teeth: Developments In Chinese Environmental Law, Erin Ryan Mar 2014

The Paper Tiger Gets Teeth: Developments In Chinese Environmental Law, Erin Ryan

Erin Ryan

This very short essay reports on the 2014 amendments to China’s Environmental Protection Law, following a series of internationally reported air and water pollution crises leading to unprecedented public protests. The changes promise more meaningful oversight of industrial pollution and harsher penalties for violations, targeting not only polluters but officials who fail to enforce applicable regulations against them. The amendments also empower certain non-governmental organizations to bring environmental litigation on behalf of the public. Official news accounts openly acknowledge the government’s hope that increased public access to legal redress will reduce the growing trend of mass environmental protests. These are …


Cleaning Up Our Rivers, Lakes, And Streams: Water Quality And Widener, Kenneth Kristl Dec 2010

Cleaning Up Our Rivers, Lakes, And Streams: Water Quality And Widener, Kenneth Kristl

Kenneth T Kristl

No abstract provided.


The Role Of Science And Engineering In Water Regulation Over The Past 100 Years, James R. May, Patrick Clary Nov 2008

The Role Of Science And Engineering In Water Regulation Over The Past 100 Years, James R. May, Patrick Clary

James R. May

This article explores how scientific and engineering principles are inexorably linked to the regulation of water. Scientists and engineers first discovered the link between disease and water sources in the mid-19th century. Over the years, scientists and engineers have led the way to identifying water quality problems and their causes. These discoveries have directly contributed to the scope of water regulation in the United States and elsewhere. In addition, changes in water quality regulation have dictated the need for increasingly sophisticated water treatment technologies and engineers have been at the forefront of the development of these water control technologies. This …


Clean Water Act Developments: The Aftermath Of Tmdl Litigation: Consent Decrees And Settlement Agreements, James R. May Dec 2005

Clean Water Act Developments: The Aftermath Of Tmdl Litigation: Consent Decrees And Settlement Agreements, James R. May

James R. May

This article provides the latest developments about TMDL lawsuits nationally. It concludes that the results of TMDL settlements are mixed, least so where it matters most. The glory is that EPA has reviewed anew, or had the states review, readily existing and available water quality related data and information for 40,000 waters, finding 20,000 more ones impaired, bringing the national total to 60,000. EPA has agreed to "backstop" TMDL development for about 20,000 of these, and set or approved TMDLs for 10,000 impaired waters. EPA has for the first time reviewed and evaluated CPPs in six states. It has conducted …


Clean Water Act Npdes Developments In The Courts, James R. May Dec 2005

Clean Water Act Npdes Developments In The Courts, James R. May

James R. May

Although the Clean Water Act has been in effect for over thirty-three years, many aspects of the Act remain for the Supreme Court to define. In fact, the Court is still called upon to determine certain threshold questions about the Act’s scope and jurisdiction, permits, water quality standards and enforcement. One central question has been the definition of “navigable waters” as it relates to wetlands. The purpose of the Act is to protect the nation’s waters, and a logical question that the Court must address is “to what extent can wetlands be included as navigable waters?” Two cases have been …


“Addition,” “Pollutant,” “Point Source”: Recent Case Developments Affecting The Scope Of Activities Covered By The Cwa, James R. May Dec 2005

“Addition,” “Pollutant,” “Point Source”: Recent Case Developments Affecting The Scope Of Activities Covered By The Cwa, James R. May

James R. May

This article examines recent developments in the interpretation of the words “addition,” “pollutant,” and “point source,” as used in the Clean Water Act. These words have been the subject of much controversy and many interpretations as the CWA leaves them undefined. The Supreme Court has concluded most notably that the transfer of polluted water within the same body of water does not constitute “addition,” however the transfer of pollutants from one body of water into another is addition. Similarly, much controversy has surrounded the possibility of pesticides, lead shot and erosion as additions. Most recently courts have found that pesticides …


The Aftermath Of Tmdl Litigation: Consent Decrees And Settlement Agreements, James R. May Dec 2004

The Aftermath Of Tmdl Litigation: Consent Decrees And Settlement Agreements, James R. May

James R. May

The Clean Water Act allows citizens to sue the EPA to “perform any act or duty…which is not discretionary,” and citizen suits have been influential in holding EPA responsible to the ideals of the CWA. This article describes the outcomes of three complex federal consent decrees to clean up waters and protect species in Pennsylvania, Delaware and Virginia through 2011.


The Rise And Repose Of Tmdls On The Load To Perdition: Part I: Litigation, James R. May Jan 2004

The Rise And Repose Of Tmdls On The Load To Perdition: Part I: Litigation, James R. May

James R. May

No abstract provided.


The Road To Perdition: The Demise Of Tmdl Litigation, James R. May Dec 2002

The Road To Perdition: The Demise Of Tmdl Litigation, James R. May

James R. May

Citizens have filed more than two dozen suits and sent nearly four dozen notices of intent to sue EPA to implement the Clean Water Act's once vaunted "total maximum daily load" (TMDL) program. 33 U.S.C. §1313(d). The results are striking. Since 1997, states and EPA have identified nearly 20,000 waters previously thought to comply with water quality standards that do not. Since 2000, EPA has established or approved nearly 8,000 plans that aim to make these dirty waters fishable and swimmable. EPA is under court order to move the TMDL program along in more than 20 states. TMDL litigation, particularly …


Where The Water Hits The Road: Case Update To Recent Developments In Clean Water Act Litigation, James R. May Dec 2002

Where The Water Hits The Road: Case Update To Recent Developments In Clean Water Act Litigation, James R. May

James R. May

No abstract provided.


Recent Developments In Tmdl Litigation: 1999-2002, James R. May Dec 2001

Recent Developments In Tmdl Litigation: 1999-2002, James R. May

James R. May

No abstract provided.


Recent Developments In Clean Water Act Litigation: September 2001-2002, James R. May Dec 2001

Recent Developments In Clean Water Act Litigation: September 2001-2002, James R. May

James R. May

No abstract provided.