CD 633 - Introduction to Environmental Law

Credits: 3

This course offers students an introduction to American environmental law. We will begin with a basic introduction to sources of law and jurisdiction. We will survey tort law, as the historic and conceptual basis for environmental law in property law. We will emphasize administrative law and environmental legislation, as these are the areas of environmental law that most of you will encounter as professionals in community development. We will spend the majority of the course learning about how governmental agencies regulate private activities that affect land, air, water, and wildlife. Because we will consider the legal process largely from the perspective of someone working for or dealing with a public agency, we will deal with such topics as administrative procedure and judicial review of agency actions. We will also consider the roles of individuals and nonprofit organizations in the administrative and litigation processes. Therefore, we will pay close attention to such issues as standing to sue and the availability of attorney fee awards. The course will cover a wide range of substantive issues including such topics as the regulation of toxic waste, the Clean Air Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, the Endangered Species Act, common law environmental torts and the public trust doctrine. This course is available only to graduate students registered in the Community Development specialization.

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