Environmental Law

3 units

Since its creation in the 1970s, modern environmental law has established a complex regulatory structure to reduce pollution and protect public health and the environment. Today, environmental law is in the crosshairs of efforts to reshape government regulation. This course will provide an overview of the key federal environmental laws, including the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (a/k/a Superfund). It will also explore efforts to use these laws to address the complex challenges of climate change, as well as efforts to blunt their effectiveness. Regular attendance and preparation are expected. Grading will be based on a final exam, and on in-class presentations throughout the semester. [BCCCR Requirement: this course contains 2 hours of BCCCR instruction.]