Environmental Law Commons^™

To Damn Or Not Damn A Dam: Stakeholder Collaboration As A Tool For Dam Management, Alec D. Tyra, Nicholas Kandas

William & Mary Environmental Law and Policy Review

Dams have played an integral role in the development and economic growth of the United States for centuries, and remain important fixtures in water and energy management. However, after standing for decades, aging dams across the country are deteriorating or creating harmful environmental impacts that have made them sources of contention in many river basins. Calls to remove certain dams have been growing and in recent years have particularly intensified with respect to some large federally owned or regulated hydroelectric dams. These larger dams are subject to ongoing environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act. Nonfederally owned dams also …

Offshore Wind Development In The Great Lakes: Accessing Untapped Energy Potential Through International And Interstate Agreement To Overcome Public Trust Concerns, Jordan Farrell

Northwestern Journal of International Law & Business

Offshore wind energy development in the Great Lakes presents an immense opportunity for distributed generation of renewable energy; however, this potential has thus far remained untapped. One significant barrier to why there has not yet been such wind energy development in the Great Lakes is the public trust doctrine. This doctrine generally stands for the principle that a state cannot convey its submerged lands to a private party. However, there remains much legal uncertainty with regards to the doctrine. Courts and scholars have struggled to determine with any certainty the origins and grounding of the doctrine and the limits it …

When Fast-Tracking Slows You Down: Reconsidering Nationwide Permit 12 Use For Large-Scale Oil Pipelines, Megan Rulli

Dickinson Law Review (2017-Present)

The consumption of oil pervades everyday life in America. The network of pipelines transporting oil from field to consumer is largely invisible. Until a major news event bursts pipelines onto headlines, this indispensable and invisible system fuels the country without fanfare. At the same time, concern over global climate change has made new large-scale projects for fossil fuel extraction and consumption highly controversial. The Keystone XL (“KXL”) pipeline was originally designed to transport crude oil extracted from oil sands in Canada to the Gulf of Mexico for international export. After more than a decade of false starts, the project currently …

Alternative Solutions For Government Intervention In Climate Crisis Markets: Price Gouging And The Pandemic Egg Market Case Study, S. Byron Frazelle

William & Mary Environmental Law and Policy Review

The cost of a thing is the amount of what I will call life which is required to be exchanged for it, immediately or in the long run.

The incredible, edible egg.

Fires in California, hurricanes along the Gulf, a worldwide pandemic—it is evident that the year 2020 was defined by great crises, most of which were direct results of or exacerbated by climate change. The effects of these crises on broader American society, in particular that of the COVID-19 pandemic, are just beginning to be realized. Nearly every aspect of American life has been impacted by the pandemic and …

Southern Harm: Analyzing The Criminal Enforcement Of Environmental Law In The Southern United States, 1983-2019, Joshua Ozymy, Melissa L. Jarrell

William & Mary Environmental Law and Policy Review

When violations of environmental laws involve significant harm or culpable conduct, the application of criminal enforcement tools is required. Yet, our understanding of how environmental laws have been criminally enforced historically in the Southern United States remains poor. Our goal is to analyze historical charging and sentencing patterns and show the broader themes that emerge in environmental crime prosecutions over time in the region. Through content analysis of all 2,588 criminal prosecutions resulting from U.S. EPA criminal investigations, 1983–2019, we select all 799 prosecutions occurring in the Southern United States. Results show that 44% of prosecutions focus on water pollution, …

Enhancing The Weather: Governance Of Weather Modification Activities Of The United States, Manon Simon

William & Mary Environmental Law and Policy Review

In the context of climate change, weather modification by cloud seeding, and in particular, precipitation enhancement techniques, has gained a renewed attention from governments. In the United States, several states run weather modification programs to secure freshwater resources and increase both crop and hydroelectricity production. Weather modification techniques were developed post–World War II, and so were the legal arrangements that govern them. Since then, weather modification law has undergone little to no reform. California and Texas are two active users of cloud-seeding technologies but employ very different governance frameworks. This Article assesses the effectiveness of weather modification governance in these …

Why The Congressional Review Act Should Be Repealed, Alex Lipow

William & Mary Environmental Law and Policy Review

The Congressional Review Act (“CRA”) is a procedure that allows the political branches to quickly repeal certain regulations promulgated by administrative agencies without going through the arduous rule-making process traditionally required. Although it had been successfully used only once before 2017, President Trump and Republicans in Congress used the CRA to repeal sixteen regulations in 2017 and 2018 while President Biden and Democrats in Congress used the CRA three times in 2021. Because the CRA has been used rarely, and its central provisions are barely adjudicated in the judiciary, there are interesting legal questions about how expansively the law may …

Toward A Virginia Ocean Plan: Lessons And Recommendations From Other States, Nathaniel Dominy, Luke Foley

Virginia Coastal Policy Center

Virginia’s ocean waters feature vast natural resources, and are used by its residents, visitors, and the military for recreation, commerce, and national security. New and intensified uses, such as offshore energy production, aquaculture, and increased shipping could impact Virginia’s ocean resources. To ensure the continued protection of these resources, while allowing them to be used sustainably, the Commonwealth is developing its first ocean management plan. Because several state agencies currently manage Virginia’s territorial sea waters, a coordinated and proactive approach is needed to effectively develop this plan. Developing a Virginia Ocean Plan can help protect the Commonwealth’s ocean resources and …

Nature-Based Solutions To Sea Level Rise And Other Climate Change Impacts On : A Law And Policy Perspective, Meinhard Doelle, Tony George Puthucherril

Articles, Book Chapters, & Popular Press

There are several nature-based adaptation options available to coastal nations. In this paper, we offer a brief overview of these options and then focus on mangroves to consider how laws and policies can support nature-based solutions and thereby contribute to more effective overall adaptation efforts. We first outline the concept of adaptation and its variants, thereby setting the context for this study. We then briefly explore the science relating to nature-based adaptation. We analyze the international legal regime in place to protect mangrove ecosystems. Finally, we discuss the merits, the challenges, and strategies developed to surmount some of the challenges …

The Shipping Sector And Ports As Central Actors In The Decarbonization Effort: A Case Study Of China, Aspasia Pastra, Meinhard Doelle, Tafsor Johansson

Articles, Book Chapters, & Popular Press

This article carves out China’s maritime state-of-play with regards to GHG mitigating measures with a special focus on CO2 emission. The article commences with an overview of IMO’s GHG strategy taking into account the critical targets, proposed plans, schemes and measures aimed at the shipping sector. Discussions then segue into a twofold discussion pertaining to China’s current policy and port governance actions highlighting some of the existing gaps and challenges. Reference is made to remarkable developments from countries considering three vital key elements for an effective green port policy framework before drawing concluding remarks.

Funding Global Governance, Kristina B. Daugirdas

Articles

Funding is an oft-overlooked but critically important determinant of what public institutions are able to accomplish. This article focuses on the growing role of earmarked voluntary contributions from member states in funding formal international organizations such as the United Nations and the World Health Organization. Heavy reliance on such funds can erode the multilateral governance of international organizations and poses particular risks for two kinds of undertakings: normative work, such as setting standards and identifying best practices; and evaluating the conduct of member states and holding those states accountable, including through public criticism, when they fall short. International organizations have …

Environmental Protection And Human Rights In The Pandemic, Maria Antonia Tigre, Sarah C. Slinger, James R. May

Scholarly Works

The Covid-19 outbreak in 2020 took the world by surprise. The virus spread quickly around the globe and death tolls were constantly on the rise at early stages of the pandemic. Although vaccine rollouts have helped halt the number of deaths, inequality in accessing vaccines and effective treatments is still a major issue. From the onset, Covid-19 negatively impacted global well-being and myriad human rights. The present report examines how environmental protection and related human rights have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Based on link between environmental and human health, this report focuses on ecological human rights. The report …

What To Do When People Don't Move: Ending The "Condemnation Blight" Value Rule For Forced Retreat Resulting From Sea Level Rise, Dario Rabak

Cardozo Journal of Equal Rights & Social Justice

No abstract provided.

The Remaking Of The Supreme Court: Implications For Climate Change Litigation & Regulation, Mark P. Nevitt

Cardozo Law Review

No abstract provided.

Park County Environmental Council V. Montana Department Of Environmental Quality, 477 P.3d 288 (Mont. 2020), Holly Seymour

Public Land & Resources Law Review

The Montana Supreme Court held in 2020 that loopholes in the Montana Environmental Procedure Act ("MEPA") review process violate Montana's constitutional right to a clean and healthful environment. The holding sets a strong precedent requiring statutory protections to prevent harm to the environment before it occurs.

The Role Of Private Environmental Governance In Climate Adaptation, Michael P. Vandenbergh, Bruce M. Johnson

Vanderbilt Law School Faculty Publications

This Article examines the role of private environmental governance (PEG) in climate change adaptation. PEG occurs when private organizations perform traditionally governmental functions such as providing public goods and reducing negative externalities. PEG initiatives that target climate change mitigation have expanded rapidly in the last decade and have been the subject of research in multiple fields, but PEG initiatives that target climate change adaptation have received less attention. As a first step, the Article develops a definition of private governance regarding climate adaptation, identifies several types of PEG adaptation initiatives, and briefly identifies research gaps.

Keeping Nutrient Pollution At Bay: An Analysis Of Efforts To Mitigate Non-Point Source Pollution In The Chesapeake Bay, Madison Hinkle

West Virginia Law Review

The Chesapeake Bay is one of the most important estuaries in the United States, adding to the region’s ecological, economic, recreational, historic, and cultural value. In 1982, a study was conducted that determined that a rapid loss of aquatic life in the Bay was due to nutrient pollution, specifically nitrogen and phosphorus, the majority of which is associated with the agricultural industry. A number of the jurisdictions2 within the Bay Watershed established the first Chesapeake Bay Agreement in 1983, aimed at abating the issues. Over the next four decades, the Agreement was then modified and resigned, additional jurisdictions have signed …

Suits Against Gas-Emitting Landfills In West Virginia: Identifying And Overcoming The Barriers, Shawn H. Hogbin

West Virginia Law Review

The U.S. in the past two decades has experienced an increase in class actions stemming from landfill odors, with many of these lawsuits utilizing the common law doctrines of nuisance, trespass, and negligence. Landfill odors impact nearby residents, making it unenjoyable for them to be outside on their lawns, and even in their homes. West Virginia’s sole appellate court, despite the state having 17 operational landfills and disposing of nearly 1.5 million tons of trash, has seen no such suit. This Note identifies whether West Virginia decisional law is prohibitive of this type of suit; it finds no clear legal …

Universal Access To Clean Water For Tribes In The Colorado River Basin, Heather Tanana, Jaime Garcia, Ana Olaya, Chelsea Colwyn, Hanna Larsen, Ryan Williams, Jonathan King

Utah Law Faculty Scholarship

The coronavirus pandemic has tragically highlighted the vast and long standing inequities facing Tribal communities, including disparities in water access. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) are at least 3.5 times more likely than white persons to contract COVID-19. Limited access to running water is one of the main factors contributing to this elevated rate of incidence.

This report describes current conditions among Tribes in the Colorado River Basin. It outlines the four main challenges in drinking water access: (1) Native American households are more likely to lack piped water …

Re-Imagining Risk: The Role Of Resilience And Prevention, Timothy Malloy

Nevada Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Realigning The Clean Water Act: Comprehensive Treatment Of Nonpoint Source Pollution, Robin M. Rotman, Ashley A. Hollis, Kathleen M. Trauth

Faculty Publications

Nonpoint source pollution is the biggest threat to water quality in the United States today. This Article argues for stronger federal controls over nonpoint source pollution. It begins by examining the history of water quality regulation in the United States, including the passage and amendment of the Clean Water Act and the evolving definition of “navigable waters” over time. The Article then discusses recent rulemaking and litigation developments, including the Clean Water Rule, the Navigable Waters Protection Rule, and the County of Maui, Hawaii v. Hawaii Wildlife Fund case. It offers three recommendations. First, the Article calls for a congressional …

The Public Trust Doctrine And The Climate Crisis: Panacea Or Platitude?, Joseph Regalia

Michigan Journal of Environmental & Administrative Law

Over a year of shutting down the global economy during the COVID pandemic achieved about .01 degrees of improvement in global warming. Not even a drop in the bucket. We continue to face a monumental climate crisis. And of the many ways that crisis threatens our environment, winnowing water resources is one of the scariest. One solution that many scholars have turned to is the public trust doctrine. At first blush, this doctrine sounds like a panacea for water management problems: When our water resources are threatened enough that current and future citizen’s access to it is in peril, the …

Nature’S Rights, Christiana Ochoa

Michigan Journal of Environmental & Administrative Law

Do forests and rivers possess standing to sue? Do mountain ranges have substantive rights? A recent issue of The Judges’ Journal, a preeminent publication for American judges, alerts the bench, bar, and policymakers to the rapidly emerging “rights of nature,” predicting that state and federal courts will increasingly see claims asserting such rights. Within the United States, Tribal law has begun to legally recognize the rights of rivers, mountains, and other natural features. Several municipalities across the United States have also acted to recognize the rights of nature. United States courts have not yet addressed the issue, though in 2017, …

Blazing A Path To Wilderness: A Case Study Of Impact Litigation Through The Lens Of Legislative History, Neil Kagan

Michigan Journal of Environmental & Administrative Law

Litigation can be a catalyst for legislation. Legislative history can reveal just how influential litigation is. The legislative history of the laws to designate wilderness in the 1980s provides an object lesson. It demonstrates that litigation both pushed Congress to act and shaped the legislation Congress enacted. This is especially true of the watershed year of 1984. That year, Congress enacted more wilderness laws and added more wilderness areas to the National Wilderness Preservation System in more states than in any other year. The legislative history of the 1984 wilderness laws embedded in bills, hearings, committee meetings, committee reports, and …

Composition Over Division: The Statutes Of The National Forest System, Jamison E. Colburn

Michigan Journal of Environmental & Administrative Law

In September 2020, the U.S. Forest Service took the extraordinary step of closing all 18 national forests in California. The risk of catastrophic fire had become so acute that tolerating any human visitors—who could ignite more—was no longer tenable. Damages from the fires of 2020 are still being tallied, but the catastrophe is hard to deny. Five of the state’s six largest fires on record occurred in 2020. Migrating birds dropped from the sky by the thousands from some combination of asphyxiation, exhaustion, and starvation. An estimated 80% of California’s watersheds had recently burned by 2019, leaving them immediately vulnerable …

Protecting Climate Change Law From A Revived Nondelegation Doctrine, Andrew Rockett

Michigan Journal of Environmental & Administrative Law

In an era of political gridlock, a potential revitalization of the nondelegation doctrine threatens the Environmental Protection Agency’s existing framework for regulating greenhouse gas emissions and addressing the urgent threat of climate change. At its apex, the nondelegation doctrine briefly constrained permissible delegations from the legislature to the executive branch after two Supreme Court decisions in 1935. The doctrine has since weakened under the lenient “intelligible principle” standard. That standard today allows the legislative branch to make broad delegations to administrative arms of the executive branch, which then use technological and bureaucratic expertise to clarify, implement, and enforce statutes. The …

Interstate Pollution And The Quandary Of Personal Jurisdiction, Cedar H. Hobbs

Michigan Journal of Environmental & Administrative Law

Current Supreme Court personal jurisdiction analysis does not clearly support a finding of personal jurisdiction for out of state polluters in an interstate toxic tort. Still, some courts, including the Ninth Circuit, have attempted to find personal jurisdiction in these cases, but in doing so have employed tenuous analysis that can result in inconsistent case law. This Note argues that there is a better analytical framework which reemphasizes the role played by territorial borders in personal jurisdictional analysis. Through employing this framework, courts can find personal jurisdiction in interstate toxic torts while also preserving analytically consistent case law.

Fixing The Business Of Food: Aligning Food Company Practices With The Sdgs, Sustainable Development Solutions Network, Columbia Center On Sustainable Investment, Sanda Chiara Lab, Barilla Center For Food And Nutrition

Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment Staff Publications

The food sector confronts significant sustainable development challenges. It both contributes to, and suffers from, environmental degradation, especially human-induced climate change and deforestation. Although it can provide farming communities with livelihoods and incomes, it also can fuel land grabs that undermine community rights and wellbeing. The sector feeds the growing global population, but also contributes to the epidemics of obesity and metabolic diseases, while chronic malnutrition has continued to worsen in the years since adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In light of these challenges and opportunities, a number of frameworks, guidance documents, and standards have aimed to create …

Assessing China’S Environmental Ngo Public Interest Litigation Against The U.S. Citizen Suit Model, Huishihan Wang

Dissertations & Theses

This dissertation introduces the U.S. and China’s environmental governance evolution, the background of their private enforcement provisions, including each country’s environmental legislative, administrative, and judicial development before establishing private enforcement. After the introduction, the second section examines the U.S. environmental citizen suits’ origin, environmental movements during the 1960s and 1970s, and pioneer ENGOs’ legal experiences. Statutory provisions are reviewed in various aspects in order to fully present this significant U.S. private enforcement measure. The third section analyzes the trajectory of Chinese ENGO EPIL development, including the provisions and typical actions according to several scattered provisions. Section four compares the theoretical …

Impact Of National And Municipal Environmental Standards On The Development Of Effective Solid Waste Management Systems In Jeddah, Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia, Raed Bin Sadan

Dissertations & Theses

The following research paper analyzes the impact of national and municipal environmental standards on the development of effective Solid waste management systems in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The research is essential in ensuring that there are notable positive changes in the disposal of solid waste by both the local government and the national government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The following paper follows a strategic plan and procedure in ensuring achievement of the goal and purpose of the research. The approach used in this paper is a comparison of the current local system and a proposed improvement of …