Environmental Law

by Kubasek, Nancy; Silverman, Gary

• ISBN13: 9780130141217
• ISBN10: 0130141216
• Edition: 3rd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1999-08-01
• Publisher: Pearson College Div

Summary

Geared to undergraduate or graduate courses in Environmental Law. Also works well as a supplemental text in an Environmental Policy course. This fundamental introduction to environmental law explains the legal system and process in general, discusses specific environmental laws, and presents the scientific background necessary for understanding each law. The text is designed to introduce those without any legal or special scientific training to the system through which the nation attempts to preserve and protect the different aspects of our environment.

Table of Contents

Preface	xi
PART I AN INTRODUCTION TO THE LAW	1	(112)
The American Legal System: The Source of Environmental Law	2	(43)
Source of Law	2	(10)
The Legislature as a Source of Statutory Law	2	(6)
The Judicial Branch as a Source of Case Law	8	(2)
The Executive Branch as a Source of Law	10	(1)
Administrative Agencies as a Source of Law	11	(1)
Classifications of Law	12	(13)
Case and Statutory Law	12	(1)
Public and Private Law	12	(1)
Criminal Law and Civil Law	12	(13)
Constitutional Principles Underlying the American Legal System	25	(14)
Federalism	26	(1)
Federal Preemption	26	(1)
The Commerce Clause	27	(3)
The Fourth Amendment	30	(1)
The Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments	31	(5)
A Constitutional Right to Environmental Protection?	36	(3)
Concluding Remarks	39	(1)
Question for Review and Discussion	40	(1)
For Further Reading	40	(1)
On the Internet	41	(1)
Notes	41	(2)
Thinking Critically About Issues Related to Environmental Law	43	(2)
The Litigation Process and Other Tools for Resolving Environmental Disputes	45	(36)
The Adversary System	45	(2)
An Introduction to the Adversary System	45	(1)
Criticisms of the Adversary System	46	(1)
The U.S. Dual Court System	47	(6)
The Federal Court System	47	(1)
The State Court System	47	(3)
Choice of Courts	50	(3)
Primary Actors in the Legal System	53	(3)
The Attorney	53	(1)
The Judge	54	(1)
The Jury	55	(1)
Stpes in Civil Litigation	56	(15)
The Threshold Issues	57	(5)
Pretrial	62	(4)
The Trial	66	(3)
Appellate Procedure	69	(2)
Alternatives to Civil Litigation	71	(5)
Arbitration	72	(2)
Mediation	74	(2)
Concluding Remarks	76	(1)
Questions for Review and Discussion	76	(1)
For Further Reading	77	(1)
On the Internet	77	(1)
Notes	78	(1)
Thinking Critically About Issues Related to Environmental Law	78	(3)
Administrative Law and Its Impact on the Environment	81	(32)
Creation of Administrative Agencies	82	(1)
Functions of Administrative Agencies	82	(10)
Rule Making	83	(5)
Adjudication	88	(4)
Administrative Activities	92	(1)
Limitations on Agency Powers	92	(5)
Statutory Limitations	92	(2)
Institutional Limitations	94	(3)
Important Agencies Affecting the Environment	97	(11)
Executive versus Independent Agencies	97	(1)
The Environmental Protection Agency	98	(7)
Interagency Cooperation	105	(1)
The Department of the Interior and Its Agencies	105	(2)
The Department of Agriculture and Its Agencies	107	(1)
The Department of Labor and Its Agencies	108	(1)
Concluding Remarks	108	(1)
Questions for Review and Discussion	108	(1)
For Further Reading	109	(1)
On the Internet	109	(1)
Notes	110	(1)
Thinking Critically About Issues Related to Environmental Law	110	(3)
PART II THE ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS	113	(237)
An Introduction to Environmental Law and Policy	114	(34)
The Need for Regulation	114	(3)
Tragedy of the Commons	115	(1)
Free Rider Problem	115	(1)
Pollution as an Externality	116	(1)
Environmental Ethic	116	(1)
Alternative Ways to Control Pollution	117	(5)
Tort Law	117	(2)
Subsidies, Emissions Charges, and Marketable Emissions Permits	119	(2)
Green Taxes	121	(1)
Direct Regulation	121	(1)
Evolution of Our Environmental Policy	122	(8)
The Origins of Our Environmental Policy	122	(1)
The 1970s: The Environmental Decade	123	(1)
The 1980s	123	(1)
The Early 1990s	124	(4)
The Middle to Late 1990s	128	(2)
National Environmental Policy Act	130	(11)
Council on Environmental Quality	130	(2)
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)	132	(7)
Alternatives to the EIS	139	(1)
Effectiveness of NEPA	139	(2)
Pollution Prevention Act of 1990	141	(2)
Concluding Remarks	143	(1)
Questions for Review and Discussion	144	(1)
For Further Reading	144	(1)
On the Internet	145	(1)
Notes	145	(1)
Thinking Critically About Issues Related to Environmental Law	146	(2)
Air Quality Control	148	(35)
The Major Air Pollutants	148	(6)
Sulfur Dioxide	149	(1)
Nitrogen Oxides	150	(1)
Carbon Monoxide	151	(1)
Ozone	151	(2)
Particulates	153	(1)
Lead	153	(1)
Airborne Toxins	154	(1)
Some Significant Air Quality Problems	154	(5)
Acid Deposition	154	(2)
Depletion of the Ozone Layer	156	(1)
The Greenhouse Effect	157	(2)
Indoor Pollution	159	(1)
The Initial Approach to Air Quality Control	159	(4)
The Current Approach to Air Quality Control	163	(11)
National Ambient Air Quality Standards	164	(4)
No Significant Deterioration (NSD)	168	(1)
New Source Performance Standards	168	(2)
Mobile Source Performance Standards	170	(2)
1990 Air Toxics Program	172	(2)
The 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments	174	(3)
Acid Rain Control Program	174	(2)
Enforcement of the 1990 Act	176	(1)
Solutions Beyond the Clean Air Act	177	(1)
Concluding Remarks	177	(1)
Questions for Review and Discussion	178	(1)
For Further Reading	178	(1)
On the Internet	179	(1)
Notes	179	(2)
Thinking Critically About Issues Related to Environmental Law	181	(2)
Water Quality Control	183	(27)
The Major Water Pollutants	184	(5)
Pathogens	184	(1)
Conventional Organics	185	(1)
Toxic Trace Organics	186	(1)
Nutrients	187	(1)
Heavy Metals	187	(1)
Ionizing Radiation	188	(1)
Other Measures	188	(1)
Some Significant Water Quality Problems	189	(2)
Trace Levels of Toxic Organics	189	(1)
Lead and Copper	190	(1)
Radon and Other Radionucleotides	191	(1)
Protecting Water Through Government Actions	192	(13)
Water Rights	192	(4)
Protecting Waters of the Nation	196	(6)
Protecting Drinking Water	202	(3)
Concluding Remarks	205	(1)
Questions for Review and Discussion	206	(1)
For Further Reading	207	(1)
On the Internet	207	(1)
Notes	207	(1)
Thinking Critically About Issues Related to Environmental Law	208	(2)
Controlling Toxic Substances	210	(28)
Identification of Potentially Toxic Substances	210	(5)
Scientific Uncertainty	211	(1)
Risk Assessment	212	(3)
Federal Regulation of Toxic Substances	215	(13)
Toxic Substances Control Act	216	(4)
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act	220	(5)
Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetics Act	225	(1)
Food Quality Protection Act	226	(1)
Progress Under the Acts	226	(2)
Toxic Torts	228	(6)
Theories of Recovery	228	(1)
Problems in Establishing Causation	229	(2)
Enterprise Liability	231	(1)
Punitive Damages	232	(2)
Concluding Remarks	234	(1)
Questions for Review and Discussion	234	(1)
For Further Reading	234	(1)
On the Internet	235	(1)
Notes	235	(1)
Thinking Critically About Issues Related to Environmental Law	236	(2)
Waste Management and Hazardous Releases	238	(33)
Waste Control Techniques	239	(1)
The Problem with Waste	240	(2)
Requirements for Managing Waste	242	(10)
Municipal Solid Waste	242	(2)
Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments of 1984	244	(1)
Hazardous Waste	245	(6)
Enforcement of RCRA	251	(1)
CERCLA: An Overview	252	(1)
Emergency Response Plans and Right to Know	253	(2)
Federal Response to Contaminated Sites	255	(7)
Removal Action	256	(1)
Remedial Response	257	(5)
Underground Storage Tank Program	262	(2)
Concluding Remarks	264	(1)
Questions for Review and Discussion	265	(1)
For Further Reading	266	(1)
On the Internet	266	(1)
Notes	267	(1)
Thinking Critically About Issues Related to Environmental Law	268	(3)
Energy and Natural Resources	271	(41)
Energy Policy: A Historical Overview	271	(5)
The Crisis Begins	272	(1)
A Return to Complacency	273	(1)
What Now?	274	(2)
Energy Consumption	276	(1)
Coal: The Oldest Energy Source	277	(4)
Problems with Coal	278	(1)
Regulation of the Mining Industry	279	(2)
Petroleum and Natural Gas	281	(4)
Onshore Development Problems	281	(1)
Offshore Development Problems	282	(2)
Oil Spills	284	(1)
Nuclear Energy	285	(4)
History of Nuclear Energy Development	286	(1)
Problems with Nuclear Energy	286	(2)
Regulation of the Nuclear Industry	288	(1)
Renewable Fuels	289	(3)
Hydropower	290	(1)
Solar Energy	290	(1)
Wind Energy	291	(1)
Biomass Energy	291	(1)
Geothermal Energy	291	(1)
Protecting Public Lands	292	(3)
Forests	292	(1)
Rangelands	293	(1)
Regulation of Public Lands	294	(1)
Wetlands, Estuaries, and Coastal Areas	295	(7)
Benefits of Wetlands	296	(1)
Destruction of Wetlands	297	(1)
Regulations to Preserve Coastal Areas and Wetlands	298	(4)
Endangered Species	302	(5)
Concluding Remarks	307	(1)
Questions for Review and Discussion	307	(1)
For Further Reading	307	(1)
On the Internet	308	(1)
Notes	309	(1)
Thinking Critically About Issues Related to Environmental Law	310	(2)
International Environmental Law	312	(38)
The Need for International Environmental Law	312	(5)
Overpopulation	312	(2)
Loss of Biological Diversity	314	(1)
The Global Commons	315	(1)
Environmental Disasters and Transboundary Pollution	316	(1)
The Nature of International Law	317	(1)
Sources of International Environmental Law	318	(3)
Conventional Law	318	(1)
Customary Law	319	(2)
Institutions That Effectuate and Influence International Environmental Law	321	(5)
United Nations	321	(2)
World Bank	323	(1)
European Community	324	(2)
Addressing Specific International Environmental Problems	326	(12)
Transboundary Pollution	326	(1)
Choice of Forums	327	(2)
The Global Commons	329	(6)
Prevention of Biological Diversity	335	(3)
The Future of International Environmental Law	338	(6)
Rio Summit	338	(2)
Kyoto Protocol	340	(1)
Environmentalism and Trade	341	(3)
Concluding Remarks	344	(1)
Questions for Review and Discussion	344	(1)
For Further Reading	345	(1)
On The Internet	346	(1)
Notes	346	(1)
Thinking Critically About Issues Related to Environmental Law	347	(3)
Appendices	350	(5)
A Sample Page of Drinking Water Standards and Health Advisories	350	(1)
B Abbreviations and Acronyms	351	(4)
Index	355