Research Reports

The report provides a comprehensive overview of the existing legal authorities the U.S. federal government can leverage to achieve the national goal of eliminating plastic release into the environment by 2040 while safeguarding human health and the environment. Building on the legal framework established by a Congressionally-mandated report from the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine, the report categorizes federal authorities—spanning executive orders, legislation, regulations, and associated programs—into specific "intervention areas" across the plastic life cycle.

The report, Existing U.S. Federal Authorities to Address Plastic Pollution: A Synopsis for Decision Makers, provides policymakers with a comprehensive analysis of how existing federal law may be utilized to address the plastic pollution crisis.

As a supplement to our report, Existing U.S. Federal Authorities to Address Plastic Pollution: A Synopsis for Decision Makers, this report offers a concise review of the instruments through which the United States can negotiate and conclude international agreements. The report then describes how existing U.S.

The Environmental Law Institute (ELI) partnered with the National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers, Dr. Jamie Donatuto, and Swinomish Elder Larry Campbell† to evaluate implementation of two Tribal consultation laws in California, Senate Bill 18 (SB 18) and Assembly Bill 52 (AB 52), with an emphasis on the impacts on Native American Tribes.

In May 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court, through its majority opinion in Sackett v.