Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
- Publication Year
- Publication
- Publication Type
Articles 1 - 22 of 22
Full-Text Articles in Law
Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Measures In The United States Electric Power Industry, Joel B. Eisen
Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Measures In The United States Electric Power Industry, Joel B. Eisen
Law Faculty Publications
This chapter addresses greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation measures in the US energy sector, and, specifically, those applying to the US electric power industry. The focus is on the systems of federal, state, regional, and local regulation of GHG emissions associated with electricity generation, transmission and distribution, concentrating on the regulatory trends likely to have the largest impacts on mitigating GHG emissions. In addition, this section will discuss the extent to which these systems of regulating GHG emissions have evolved over the past decade.
Nrdc Sues Epa For A Failure To Issue Hazardous Substance Regulations: The End Of A Decades-Long Public Risk In Sight, Jack Morgan
Nrdc Sues Epa For A Failure To Issue Hazardous Substance Regulations: The End Of A Decades-Long Public Risk In Sight, Jack Morgan
Law Student Publications
Currently there are no federal regulations that prevent hazardous substance spills at onshore facilities, such as tank farms, or in communities where a spill of those chemicals could threaten water supplies. On July 21, 2015, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) filed a complaint on behalf of the Environmental Justice Health Alliance for Chemical Policy Reform (EJHA) and People Concerned About Chemical Safety (PCCS) against EPA and EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy in her official capacity as administrator, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. The case has been assigned to Judge Shira A. Sheindlin. The …
Avoiding The Catch-22: Reforming The Renewable Fuel Standard To Protect Freshwater Resources And Promote Energy Independence, Leah Stiegler
Avoiding The Catch-22: Reforming The Renewable Fuel Standard To Protect Freshwater Resources And Promote Energy Independence, Leah Stiegler
Law Student Publications
Part I presents background on the ethanol industry and the implementation and development of the RFS. It also gives a brief overview of the non-water-related reasons that have led various sectors of the economy to oppose ethanol. Part II provides an overview of ethanol production (from cornfield to refinery) and the impact each stage of the process has on freshwater resources in the United States. Given the harm that the current RFS has caused by failing to consider the impact of the ethanol production process on our nation's freshwater resources, a policy change needs to happen. Yet there are some …
Adr At The Environmental Protection Agency, Joel B. Eisen
Adr At The Environmental Protection Agency, Joel B. Eisen
Law Faculty Publications
This chapter examines how the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) uses alternative dispute resolution (ADR) methods to help resolve complex environmental disputes. In recent years, the EPA's use of ADR has increased dramatically in a wide variety of settings. The EPA has made ADR a central feature of its environmental enforcement strategy, encouraged its use in Title VI and environmental justice conflict settings, and turned to negotiated rulemaking as an alternative to the cumbersome notice-and-comment process for development of new federal regulations. Other EPA programs, such as the Brownfields Economic Redevelopment Initiative, promote nonadversarial methods for tackling complex environmental problems. …
Annual Survey Of Virginia Law: Environmental Law, Kevin J. Finto, Christopher R. Graham, Brooks M. Smith, Penny A. Shamblin
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
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
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
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.
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.
Using Experience To Improve Superfund Remedy Selection, Robert H. Abrams
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 …
Facing A Time Of Counter-Revolution-- The Kepone Incident And A Review Of First Principles, Zygmunt J.B. Plater
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
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
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
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: Environmental Law, James E. Ryan Jr.
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.
Environmental Liens And Title Insurance, Robert S. Bozarth
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.