This course examines the history of and current state of environmental protection in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Republics. Emphasis is placed on developments occurring in the post-Communist era, including denationalization, privatization, restitution, environmental standards, key players in environmental regulation, and enforcement. The course begins with a brief introduction to the role of environmental science in the litigation process, including an overview of the use of expert witnesses and special procedures available for use in cases involving extensive scientific evidence. The course then proceeds to an examination of several core areas of environmental science that arise frequently in toxic tort and environmental enforcement litigation, including scientific notation and basic statistics, sampling and analysis techniques, risk assessment, groundwater, air, and soil. This course examines responses to problems of government in urban areas.
Special attention is also devoted to urban financial arrangements.
This course reviews the public order of the oceans, i.e., the basic principles of international law, both customary and treaty-based, that apply to maritime spaces, such as the high seas, continental shelf, seabed, and ocean floor. Special consideration is given to enforcement issues related to drug trafficking and violations of marine environmental protection or fisheries regulations. This seminar explores the relationship of Indian tribal sovereignty to federal and state governments, and distinctive legal doctrines relating to Native Americans. Students read both US court and tribal court opinions, as well as other texts. This seminar examines practical lawyering skills in the area of environmental representation.