Vibrant Environment
Governance And Rule Of Law
All | Biodiversity | Climate Change and Sustainability | Environmental Justice | Governance and Rule of Law | Land Use and Natural Resources | Oceans and Coasts | Pollution Control
By George Wyeth
In June of this year, Louisiana enacted a law governing the gathering of air pollution data by community-based organizations. Similar legislation has been introduced (but not adopted) in West Virginia and may be proposed in other states. While proponents argue they are simply ensuring only the best data is used, the Louisiana law undermines valid community efforts to understand an
By Jarryd Page
On November 12, the U.S. Court of the Appeals for the D.C. Circuit shattered the implementation framework of one of the nation’s foundational environmental laws, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). In a 2-1 decision in Marin Audubon v.
By Dara Albrecht
On June 20, 2024, four days before the case was set to go to trial, Hawaiʻi’s First Circuit Court approved a landmark settlement that resolved claims brought by thirteen Hawaiʻian youth plaintiffs against Hawaiʻi’s Department of Transportation (HDOT) and other defendants, including the department director and Governor. That case, Navahine F. v.
By Jay Austin, By Jarryd Page
Today’s Supreme Court is, to borrow a phrase from a recent discussion, reshaping American life. It’s doing so across numerous areas of law, prompting commentators, professionals, and everyday citizens to adapt to a rapidly evolving legal landscape.
By Isabella Blanco
World Water Day is an annual event celebrated on March 22nd, dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of water resources worldwide. In the face of escalating water crises and environmental degradation, the call for innovative solutions to ensure sustainable water management has never been more urgent.
Although water covers 70% of the earth’s surface, only 1 percent is available for human use. While freshwater supplies remain relatively finite, demand for water in the United States has tripled over the past 50 years.
By Jarryd Page
Yesterday morning, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral argument in a pair of cases—Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo and Relentless, Inc. v. Department of Commerce—that by all accounts have the potential to result in a seismic shift in administrative and regulatory law, including changes for courts, the President and federal agencies, Congress, and the public.
By Stephen R. Dujack
Starting with the January/February 2024 issue, the Environmental Forum has a change: “The,” capitalized and in italics, is no longer part of our name—too 20th century, to be frank. This change comes as a result of celebrating our 40th anniversary with this issue, a time for reflection as to the foundational purposes behind this publication and to honor the roster of leading professionals who have made it possible.
By ELR Staff
Household recycling can reduce demand for virgin materials, limit waste sent to landfills, and lessen the cost of producing metal-, glass-, and paper-containing products. Understanding the policies most conducive to promoting recycling is key to success. The November 2023 issue of ELR—The Environmental Law Reporter looks at the efficacy of state and local recycling policies and identifies contexts where the greatest improvements are possible. Using the most comprehensive data set on U.S. household recycling behavior, authors Joel Huber, W.
By ELR Staff
On May 25, the U.S. Supreme Court eliminated a major swath of CWA protections when it issued its decision in Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency. In the Court’s view, the CWA extends to only those "wetlands with a continuous surface connection to bodies that are 'waters of the United States' in their own right," such that they are indistinguishable from those waters.