Environmental Law and You
Estimated Time:
30-45 minutes, homework assignment
Grade Level:
Secondary, but adaptable for other levels
Overview:
This assignment serves as a review of important environmental laws and
their impact not only on society as a whole, but in the everyday lives of students. The
point of the exercise is to have students articulate, as though they are responding to letters
to a newspaper column, “Environmental Law and You,” how certain laws are relevant to
them, their community, and society at large. This could be a written exercise or
classroom discussion.
This teaches students to:



Analyze the historical significance of events; and how historical events impact
present circumstances;
Appreciate the significance of history in their own lives;
Appreciate and articulate the importance of the Rule of Law for protecting the
environment.1
Standards: Students will develop the following Historical Thinking Skills:2
 Chronological Thinking
 Historical Comprehension
 Historical analysis and interpretation
 Historical Issues-Analysis and Decision-Making
Materials
 Environmental Law and You handout, copy for students as needed
 Appropriate Responses Guide for reference
Activities
 Use the handout as a discussion starter, or as writing prompts for quizzes,
homework, or review assignments.
 Pose the scenarios in the letters as questions for review with your students, after
covering important environmental laws and concepts, or engaging students in
suggested activities—see Insights v. 8 n. 3, “Law and the Environment” and
supplemental online materials www.insightsmagazine.org for more information.
Debrief
 Ask students if they found it difficult to respond to any of the letters. Discuss
why.
The historical thinking skills outlined in the overview are adapted from History’s Habits of the Mind™,
from the National Council for History Education, Inc.
2
National Center for History in the Schools, University of California Los Angeles, National Standards for
United States History, 1996.
1
Law and the Environment
Insights on Law & Society vol. 8, no. 3
www.insightsmagazine.org
© 2008
Environmental Law and You

Discuss the practical, relevant connections between government and laws and
everyday life.
Involve a Legal Professional
 Ask a local attorney or judge to talk with your students about legal standing, and
their experiences with environmental law. For assistance, contact your local or
state bar association for a possible referral.
 Invite a local police officer or city official to talk with your students about the
environmental law regulations in your community.
 Contact your local EPA office to see if an official might be able to talk with your
students about environmental issues in your community.
Law and the Environment
Insights on Law & Society vol. 8, no. 3
www.insightsmagazine.org
© 2008
Environmental Law and You
The Times
Environmental Law and You
50¢ Daily
Dear Environmental Law and You,
Dear Newspaper,
I just got a Theodore Roosevelt action figure for
my 8th birthday last week. My mom said that he
was President of the United States. My dad said
he protected the environment. What did he do? I
know he visited Yellowstone Park. Mom and
Dad and I went there last summer! What else?
Dad said he did so much for the environment
that we still see the effects today. Wow! Did he
do anything for the environment while he was
President? And where can I see it today?
I like to go fishing in the lake with my
grandpa. He told me it is part of the
Great Lakes. I like the Great Lakes,
then. My cousin lives in Georgia, and
she told me on the phone last week that
they are running out of water. I am
scared that if her state runs out of
water they will steal it from the Great
Lakes and I won’t be able to go fishing
with my grandpa anymore. Daddy told
me not to worry, but I still do. Can you
help me?
I wish I could have met Mr. Roosevelt,
John
Denver, CO
Dear Environmental Law and You,
I have been reading your column for months
now. You teach me so much! I finally have a
question of my own: How do I know that the
water coming out of my kitchen faucet is safe to
drink? I’ve always enjoyed bottled water, but I
am trying to be more ‘green’ by refilling my own
water bottles. I want to help the planet, but
not at my own expense. Please help!
Sue
New York, NY
Hey Environmental Law and You,
I hate how the surf punks in my neighborhood
litter the beach with their cans, bottles, fast food
wrappers, and other garbage. I want to sue
them. Don’t they know that pollution harms
the environment? Sure, it’s not my beach, and
their littering isn’t my problem, but the truth is,
it’s everyone’s problem. I intend to haul them
into court and teach them a lesson they won’t
ever forget. Where can I find a lawyer that will
take my case? I tried calling a few numbers
from the yellow pages, but no one wanted to
take this on. Please tell me where I can find a
tough, smart attorney who will fight these punk
kids with me!
Ready to rumble,
Bruce
Los Angeles, CA
Law and the Environment
Insights on Law & Society vol. 8, no. 3
www.insightsmagazine.org
Hugging my teddy,
Kristin
Chicago, IL
Dear Editor,
It has come to my attention that certain rare species of
elephants are dying. They are being killed by
poachers for their beautiful ivory tusks. They are
dying faster than they’re reproducing, and eventually,
they will be all gone—extinct. Something must be
done about this travesty! Aren’t there any laws in
place to protect animals from greedy poachers and
the doom of extinction? I do hope you have some
ideas. We must save the elephants! I wonder how
those poachers would like the elephants hunting them!
Marvin
Kansas City, MO
Yo, yo, Environmental Law and You,
Could you explain to me what the Clean Air Act
is? What is it good for? I’m confused.
Peace Out,
Juan
San Antonio, TX
Directions
Using the information you have learned about
environmental law, respond to the letters above as
though you are the editor of the column “Environmental
Law and You” in your community’s newspaper.
© 2008
Environmental Law and You
Appropriate Response Guide
The Times
Environmental Law and You
50¢ Daily
Dear Environmental Law and You,
Dear Environmental Law and You,
I just got a Theodore Roosevelt action figure for
my 8th birthday last week. My mom said that he
was President of the United States. My dad said
he protected the environment. What did he do? I
know he visited Yellowstone Park. Mom and
Dad and I went there last summer! What else?
Dad said he did so much for the environment
that we still see the effects today. Wow! Did he
do anything for the environment while he was
President? And where can I see it today?
I have been reading your column for months
now. You teach me so much! I finally have a
question of my own: How do I know that the
water coming out of my kitchen faucet is safe to
drink? I’ve always enjoyed bottled water, but I
am trying to be more ‘green’ by refilling my own
water bottles. I want to help the planet, but
not at my own expense. Please help!
I wish I could have met Mr. Roosevelt,
John
Denver, CO
Response Reference:
Between 1903-1909, President Theodore
Roosevelt created 150 National Forests, 52 Bird
Reservations, including the first national wildlife
preserve, Pelican Island National Wildlife
Refuge (1903), 4 National Game Preserves, 5
National Parks, 18 National Monuments, 24
Reclamation projects (land irrigation projects),
and sponsored 7 Conservation Commissions and
Conferences. The area of the United States
placed under public protection during
Roosevelt’s presidency totaled approximately
230,000,000 acres. President Roosevelt also
signed the "Act for the Preservation of American
Antiquities," also known as the Antiquities Act
or the National Monuments Act, on June 8,
1906. The law authorized the President at his
discretion to "declare by public proclamation
historic landmarks, historic and prehistoric
structures, and other objects of historic and
scientific interest that are situated upon lands
owned or controlled by the Government of the
United States to be National Monuments.”
Roosevelt’s conservation efforts were
instrumental in the creation and preservation of
Yellowstone National Park as early as 1872, and
were frontrunners to the establishment of the
National Park System in 1916.
Law and the Environment
Insights on Law & Society vol. 8, no. 3
www.insightsmagazine.org
Sue
New York, NY
Response Reference:
In 1974, Congress passed the Safe Drinking
Water Act to be administered by the EPA,
protecting Americans from contaminated
drinking water. The EPA still regulates public
drinking water as a result of the act, enforcing
approximately 90 different contaminant
standards for 160,000 public drinking water
facilities throughout the country. The act is
renewed every five years as new health issues
and possible water contaminants are reviewed in
relation to the public water supply. The EPA
also sets “cosmetic” standards, such as coloration
and taste, for public water supplies. So, Sue is
safe to drink as much tap water as she would
like.
Hey Environmental Law and You,
I hate how the surf punks in my neighborhood
litter the beach with their cans, bottles, fast food
wrappers, and other garbage. I want to sue
them. Don’t they know that pollution harms
the environment? Sure, it’s not my beach, and
their littering isn’t my problem, but the truth is,
it’s everyone’s problem. I intend to haul them
into court and teach them a lesson they won’t
ever forget. Where can I find a lawyer that will
take my case? I tried calling a few numbers
from the yellow pages, but no one wanted to
take this on. Please tell me where I can find a
tough, smart attorney who will fight these punk
kids with me!
© 2008
Environmental Law and You
Ready to rumble,
Bruce
Los Angeles, CA
Response Reference:
This response requires an understanding of legal
standing within the court system. According to
Article III of the U.S. Constitution, one must
prove that they have legal standing, in other
words, that they are the best people to be
standing in front of a judge for the matter, prior
to establishing, arguing, and deciding a case.
For one to meet legal standing requirements, one
must establish that:
1.
2.
3.
He or she has suffered an injury—
usually some sort of financial loss;
There is a connection between the
actions of the defendant, or party being
sued, and the injury; and
That the plaintiff’s, or one filing the
lawsuit, injury can be relieved by
winning the case.
Standing is particularly tough to prove in
environmental law cases. Often the injuries are
not to specific people, but to the earth and world
at large; often there are no direct connections
between specific people and environmental
problems, but rather people in general harming
the whole environment; and often nothing
tangible, like money, will relieve the problems,
thus creating confusion about any sort of award.
Standing laws are meant to protect the integrity
of the courts and American justice system by
ensuring adversarial relationships in courtrooms.
So, Bruce will not find any attorney taking his
case—he simply doesn’t have legal standing.
me not to worry, but I still do. Can you
help me?
Hugging my teddy,
Kristin
Chicago, IL
Response Reference:
Kristin need not worry. The Great Lakes states
recently signed the Great Lakes Compact, which
bans the distribution of Great Lakes water to
nonregions, such as Georgia.
Dear Editor,
It has come to my attention that certain rare species of
elephants are dying. They are being killed by
poachers for their beautiful ivory tusks. They are
dying faster than they’re reproducing, and eventually,
they will be all gone—extinct. Something must be
done about this travesty! Aren’t there any laws in
place to protect animals from greedy poachers and
the doom of extinction? I do hope you have some
ideas. We must save the elephants! I wonder how
those poachers would like the elephants hunting them!
Marvin
Kansas City, MO
Response Reference:
Marvin needs to learn about the Endangered
Species Act of 1973, which allows the
government to declare species of animals and
plants in danger of extinction, in order to protect
them from hunting, poaching, or other harmful
actions. Perhaps the most successful examples
of the Endangered Species Act at work include
the protection of the American bison, and the
bald eagle.
Dear Newspaper,
Yo, yo, Environmental Law and You,
I like to go fishing in the lake with my
grandpa. He told me it is part of the
Great Lakes. I like the Great Lakes,
then. My cousin lives in Georgia, and
she told me on the phone last week that
they are running out of water. I am
scared that if her state runs out of
water they will steal it from the Great
Lakes and I won’t be able to go fishing
with my grandpa anymore. Daddy told
Could you explain to me what the Clean Air Act
is? What is it good for? I’m confused.
Law and the Environment
Insights on Law & Society vol. 8, no. 3
www.insightsmagazine.org
Peace Out,
Juan
San Antonio, TX
Response Reference:
The Clean Air Act was first signed in 1963, and
has been regularly revised and renewed since
then. The act set standards for air pollution and
emission standards in response to nationwide
smog problems. Basically, Juan should breathe
easy.
© 2008
Environmental Law and You
Law and the Environment
Insights on Law & Society vol. 8, no. 3
www.insightsmagazine.org
© 2008