Environmental Law for Environmental Professionals

Catalog description

Newspapers, magazines, professional journals and media outlets throughout the world every day contain stories concerning the impacts of pollution on the environment, wildlife and public health. Environmental laws are the primary tools that governments utilize to prevent, minimize and mitigate harmful impacts from such pollution. Environmental professionals (e.g., engineers, consultants, planners, inspectors, compliance officers, NGO representatives, policymakers) play a central role in the implementation and ultimate success or failure of these laws. This survey course presents environmental law in a new, accessible and thought-provoking manner. No prior training in law is expected, and students from all academic backgrounds are welcome. The course focuses on the role of environmental professionals in the regulatory process and is designed to provide environmental professionals with a foundation that will enable them to better serve the interest of their clients, work productively with environmental attorneys and effectively represent individuals and businesses before governmental regulators. The practical aspects of environmental law will be addressed with the use of case studies. A variety of focus topics will be explored, including, but not limited to: regulation of PFAS; environmental justice; and the impact on recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions on environmental protection. A number of important federal environmental statutes will be studied: Clean Air Act; Clean Water Act; CERCLA; RCRA; NEPA; and the Safe Drinking Water Act. Finally, students will read the book “A Civil Action” which will be the focus of class discussions about the interactions between environmental professionals, victims of environmental pollution, environmental attorneys and the legal system.