LAW 671SEM - Using Environmental Statutes

This short course co-taught by a practicing environmental litigator and one of the core environmental law faculty takes one of the major federal environmental law statutes and investigates its core components, main case law, and critical issues. Federal environmental law is largely shaped by seven statutes: The National Environmental Policy Act, Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, Endangered Species Act, Superfund (Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980), Safe Drinking Water Act, and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. Additional statutes govern federal land management, coastal issues, and natural resources. Each year, this course takes one of these statutes and examines its basic requirements, significant controversial or challenging issues, and important pending cases. There is no exam in this class. Students will be graded on class participation and a short final paper. This course qualifies as credit toward the environmental law certificate. No prior environmental law course work is required. It is required for the students on the National Environmental Law Moot Court team, but open to all upper level students.

Credits: 1