Environmental Law Commons^™

Resolving International Environmental Disputes In The 1990s And Beyond, Ben Boer, Beatriz Bugeda, Edith Brown Weiss, Pilippe Sands

University of Richmond Law Review Symposium

"The Implementation of International Environmental Law in the Asia Pacific Region" lecture given by Ben Boer, Professor of Environmental Law at the University of Sydney, Australia and Director of the Australian Centre for Environmental Law.

"Dispute Resolution Under NAFTA's Environmental Side Agreement" lecture given by Beatriz Bugeda, Professor of Law at the Universidad Iberoamericana, Mexico City.

"Ensuring Compliance with International Environmental Agreements" lecture given by Edith Brown Weiss, Professor of Law at Georgetown University.

"Resolution of International Environmental Disputes: Litigation and its Alternatives" lecture given by Philippe Sands, Reader in International Law at the University of London.

Virginia's Waters: Still At Risk - A Critique Of The Commonwealth's Water Quality Assessment Reports, Chesapeake Bay Foundation

Richmond Journal of Law and the Public Interest

Federal law requires all states to periodically report to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on the water quality of their rivers, lakes and streams and provide EPA with a listing of polluted waters. Virginia has recently prepared two reports for 1996 and boasts that only 5 percent of the Commonwealth's rivers are polluted. Under closer inspection, this information is found to be extremely misleading due to a number of serious gaps and flaws within Virginia's water quality monitoring program and its methods of data reporting and evaluation. When Virginia states that only 5 percent of the waters it monitors fail …

Virginia's Waters: Still At Risk - A Critique Of The Commonwealth's Water Quality Assessment Reports, Chesapeake Bay Foundation

Richmond Public Interest Law Review

Federal law requires all states to periodically report to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on the water quality of their rivers, lakes and streams and provide EPA with a listing of polluted waters. Virginia has recently prepared two reports for 1996 and boasts that only 5 percent of the Commonwealth's rivers are polluted. Under closer inspection, this information is found to be extremely misleading due to a number of serious gaps and flaws within Virginia's water quality monitoring program and its methods of data reporting and evaluation. When Virginia states that only 5 percent of the waters it monitors fail …

Remarks Of The Secretary Of Natural Resources At Environmental Virginia '98, April 2, 1998, John Paul Woodley Jr.

Richmond Public Interest Law Review

As Attorney General, Jim Gilmore delivered on his commitment to foster a strong and healthy environment through responsible stewardship of our natural resources. Today, I reaffirm Governor Gilmore's commitment. I want to focus our particular attention on the Governor's number one environmental priority - improving the quality of our Commonwealth's great waters.

Natural Resources And The Ninth Circuit Split, Carl W. Tobias

Law Faculty Publications

Congress recently considered some proposals to split the Ninth Circuit, proposals that could have far-reaching effects on the environment, public lands, and natural resources. This Article first looks at some of the recent developments in Congress, particularly the authorization of a national study commission to examine the federal appeals courts. Professor Tobias predicts that the Ninth Circuit will be split during the next decade. He cautions against using political considerations to conduct legislative policymaking with respect to thefederal courts. He suggests that those concerned about the environment gather reliable information and explore alternatives to circuit-splitting. If Congress decides to bifurcate …

From Rio To Kyoto: A Study Of The Involvement Of Non-Governmental Organizations In The Negotiations On Climate Change, Chiara Giorgetti

Law Faculty Publications

This Article analyzes the influence of non-governmental actors on the negotiations of the Framework Convention on Climate Change (FCCC or the Convention). In particular, it evaluates the methods employed by NGOs in furthering their substantive agendas, the interaction among various non-governmental actors, and the results of their efforts. This Article considers two kinds of NGOs: business and environmental. Environmental NGOs (ENGOs) are the self-defined representatives of environmental interests. They campaign for the strict reduction of all gases that induce climate change. On the other side, business NGOs (BNGOs) typically represent the interests of those industries that are involved in the …

Taking Superfund Presumptive Remedies To The Brownfields Arena, Debra Schneider

Richmond Journal of Law and the Public Interest

Problems of Time and Cost in Site Investigation and Cleanup One of the main problems with CERCLA and brownfields cleanups is the time which such cleanups take to complete. The process of investigating a site through the CERCLA Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS) process can take several years. The RI/FS process is long, and in the meantime the contamination is often left lurking at the site, harming the environment and human health.

Taking Superfund Presumptive Remedies To The Brownfields Arena, Debra Schneider

Richmond Public Interest Law Review

One of the main problems with CERCLA and brownfields cleanups is the time which such cleanups take to complete. The process of investigating a site through the CERCLA Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS) process can take several years. The RI/FS process is long, and in the meantime the contamination is often left lurking at the site, harming the environment and human health.

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.

Understanding Compliance With International Environmental Agreements: The Baker's Dozen Myths, Edith Brown Weiss

University of Richmond Law Review

Until recently, little attention has been given to whether states and other actors comply with the agreements they negotiate. The assumption has been that most states comply with most international law most of the time. There is, however, strong reason to question this assumption. As was apparent in the Breard case, which involved implementation and compliance with the consular convention, states do not necessarily comply with the international agreements they join, particularly when they involve implementation at the provincial/state and local levels.

The Rise Of Environmental Law In The Asian Region, Ben Boer

University of Richmond Law Review

In the past three decades, the realm of environmental law in many Western countries, and internationally, has grown from a small baby crying for attention to a full-fledged, articulate adult, participating in a wide variety of international, regional, and national fora concerning the protection of the environment and the management of our natural resources. More recently, in many non-Western countries and especially in Asia, environmental law has begun to enter into adulthood, manifested by significant legislative initiatives, judicial activism and a resulting environmental jurisprudence, and the establishment and growth of environmental and resource management agencies.

Remarks Of The Secretary Of Natural Resources At Environmental Virginia '98, April 2, 1998, John Paul Woodley Jr.

Richmond Journal of Law and the Public Interest

As Attorney General, Jim Gilmore delivered on his commitment to foster a strong and healthy environment through responsible stewardship of our natural resources. Today, I reaffirm Governor Gilmore's commitment. I want to focus our particular attention on the Governor's number one environmental priority - improving the quality of our Commonwealth's great waters.

University Of Richmond Law Review

University of Richmond Law Review

No abstract provided.

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.

Finding The Pearl In The Oyster: Strategies For A More Effective Implementation Of Virginia's Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act, Patrick J. Skelley Ii

University of Richmond Law Review

Since our nation's infancy, the Chesapeake Bay ("Bay") has been one of Virginia's natural treasures. The Bay is America's largest and historically most productive estuary, valued today as an economic resource, a wilderness sanctuary, and an aesthetic asset. Every year, commercial fishermen harvest blue crabs, oysters, and a multitude of fish species in mass quantities to satiate our desire for seafood. Nature aficionados can observe ospreys, laughing gulls, and other shorebirds taking their share of the Bay's bounty. From the -shoreline, quiet vacation homes overlook the waters across coves and inlets. Despite these idyllic images, the Bay has been facing …

Fruits Of The "Impenetrable Jungle": Navigating The Boundary Between Land-Use Planning And Environmental Law, Michael Allan Wolf

Law Faculty Publications

On June 24, 1994, America's local governments, financially strapped and already subject to potential liability in a number of areas, received an unwelcome gift from the United States Supreme Court--Dolan v. City ofTigard. For the third time in seven years, the Justices ended their term by releasing an opinion further extending the reach of the Fifth Amendment's Takings Clause. This decision was a cause for celebration in the ranks of private property champions and consternation among Court critics who perceive a return to the bad old days of substantive due process, the Court's second-guessing of government decisionmaking, this time …

"Brownfields Of Dreams?": Challenges And Limits Of Voluntary Cleanup Programs And Incentives, Joel B. Eisen

Law Faculty Publications

As one of the most important current topics in environmental law, the redevelopment of abandoned or underutilized urban properties, better known as brownfields, continues to generate much discussion and debate. Because most agree that abandoned sites located in aging areas and the accompanying exodus of industry to the suburbs are undesirable, the federal government and many state governments have created programs to encourage the redevelopment of these industrial properties. But often overlooked by the advocates of such programs are the difficult political, scientific, and moral questions associated with redevelopment. In this insightful article, Professor Eisen provides the most comprehensive discussion …

The Proposal To Split The Ninth Circuit, Carl W. Tobias

Law Faculty Publications

Individuals and organizations concerned about natural resources should be aware of the recent controversial proposal to divide the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. During the first session of the 104th Congress in the fall of 1995, the United States Senate Judiciary Committee approved Senate Bill 956, a measure that would establish a new Twelfth Circuit consisting of Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington, and that would leave California, Hawaii, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands in the Ninth Circuit. The Judiciary Committee vote was important for two reasons: the circuit's division could substantially affect …

Capture And Counteraction: Self-Help By Environmental Zealots, James E. Krier

University of Richmond Law Review

Self-help is a largely neglected topic in American legal studies. With the exception of a survey by a group of law students published a dozen years ago, there appears to be little, if anything, in our legal literature that confronts the subject in a systematic way. This is so, at least, if one defines self-help as I do. To me, the term refers to any act of bypassing the formal legal system in order to get what one wants.

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.

University Of Richmond Law Review

University of Richmond Law Review

No abstract provided.

The Mescalero Apache Indians And Monitored Retrievable Storage Of Spent Nuclear Fuel: A Study In Environmental Ethics, Noah M. Sachs

Law Faculty Publications

The proposal of the Mescalero Apache Indians of New Mexico to host a nuclear waste storage facility raised difficult questions about political sovereignty, environmental justice, and democratic consent. While the proposal had numerous drawbacks and deserved to be opposed, many of the arguments used against it were conceptually flawed and paternalistic. Arguments decrying bribery of a poor community were particularly weak, while those criticizing targeting of Indian tribes by the United States government and coercion of tribal members by the Mescalero leadership had more merit. The core ethical arguments should be separated from the rhetoric so that policy makers, Native …

Toward A Sustainable Urbanism: Lessons From Federal Regulation Of Urban Stormwater Runoff, Joel B. Eisen

Law Faculty Publications

This Article focuses on the particularly vexing challenge of forging a sustainable urbanism in Edge Cities and analyzes regulatory attempts to control urban stormwater runoff. If our task is to "describe the natural world and to evaluate our actions toward it in ways that presuppose ... [a] community between nature and mankind," we must also characterize and address this source of considerable pollution, which originates from thousands of dispersed locations. Unfortunately, environmental protection efforts have only begun to address the pollution of urban stormwater runoffs. Parts II and III of this Article detail these largely unsuccessful attempts and conclude that …

Northern Rockies Report On 1994 Natural Resources Legislation, Carl W. Tobias

Law Faculty Publications

I want to report on certain political developments in the Big Sky states which will help to illuminate why 1994 was such a dismal year for national legislation relating to Montana natural resources by emphasizing the ongoing wilderness debate. Representative Pat Williams (D-Mont.), who fist won election to the House of Representatives in 1978, developed, introduced and skillfully shepherded through the House a wilderness bill that would have created approximately 1.7 million acres of new wilderness. The legislation would also have released much land for multiple use, particularly for resource development, and would have designated considerable additional acreage for further …

Losing The Littoral Zone, Carl W. Tobias

Law Faculty Publications

Review of John Stilgoe, Alongshore (1994)

Policy In Wake Of The Incident, Gerald Mccarthy, W. Tayloe Murphy, Gerald Winegrad, Joel B. Eisen

University of Richmond Law Review

The goal of this panel was to examine the policies formed in the wake of the Kepone incident: the environmental laws, the regulations and policies that are designed to safeguard our natural resources to ensure that incidents such as the Kepone incident do not reoccur and if they do, to hold those responsible for environmental damage accountable for their actions.

Deception, Self-Deception, And Myth: Evaluating Long-Term Environmental Settlements, William H. Rodgers Jr.

University of Richmond Law Review

This paper draws upon six famous settlements that are known in various degrees to students of environmental law. Three are a matter of deep history: the 1970 Environmental Defense Fund settlement that led the last manufacturer of DDT in the U.S. to cease discharges into the Los Angeles sewer system and thence into Santa Monica Bay, the Kepone settlement of the mid-70s that followed in the wake of Judge Merhige's initial assessment of a record-breaking criminal fine of $13.24 million, and the Hudson River settlement of the early 1980s in which environmentalists gave up demands for cooling towers on several …

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 …

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- …

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.