The purpose of the class is to acquaint you with the major federal environmental laws. These laws primarily are intended to protect human health from pollution. We look at one statutory scheme in depth, such as the clean air act or the clean water act, and examine other acts as there is time. The course is taught with an emphasis on the policy setting of environmental law and the evolving direction of policy. The skills that are emphasized are the careful reading of statutes and regulations, research into pending congressional legislation, and policy analysis.
Practitioners address the class on a periodic basis.