Environmental Regulation: Laws and Regulation
Spring 2012
Instructor: Theda Braddock, Esq.
Course Description: An introduction to substantive elements of the major federal
environmental statutes, and the basic procedural requirements of environmental
litigation, taught by reading and discussing a number of federal appellate court
cases.
Course Objective: Students will gain a basic understanding of the essential
concepts of federal environmental law through the factual setting and logic
revealed in a number of federal appellate cases. Classes will consist of lectures
outlining the basic structure of each statute’s regulatory scheme, instructororganized student-led discussion of selected reported decisions, and student
presentation of research papers on current issues in environmental regulation.
Book: Environmental Law Handbook, Sullivan, et al., 21st ed. (2011)
Course Requirements: Grading will depend upon timely completion of the
following:
Class Participation: In advance of each class except the first class, the
instructor will assign cases to two-person teams to brief and argue each
case assigned for the next class with particular emphasis on describing
separately the factual setting of the case, the issue presented, and
describing each side of the case argued in the reported decision. Cases are
available for download at http://lp.findlaw.com/. In addition, beginning
April 11th, the instructor will select certain papers for the author to then
give a 5 – 10 minute presentation to the class. (30%)
One 10 - 15 page research paper on a current environmental issue
including an examination of the background factual setting, any statute(s)
and/or case law involved in describing current status, and the student’s
recommendations for future action or resolution of the issue. Topics to be
approved by the Instructor in advance. Due April 4th; late work will be
penalized. (40%)
A Final Examination on May 9th consisting of 20 short answer questions
and the student’s selection of one out of three essay questions. (30%)
Grading: Grading is pass/ no pass and numerical; final grade will be based upon
the student’s accumulation of total points. Student’s must achieve 80% or better
to pass the class.
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Class Schedule and Syllabus:
Date
Mar.
7
Topic
Fundamentals of Environmental Law (Chap. 1)
Recommended Reading:
o Aldo Leopold, Sand County Almanac, Oxford University Press (1949)
o Garrett Hardin, The Tragedy of the Commons, 162 Science 1243 (1968)
o Christopher D. Stone, Should Trees Have Standing?, Southern California Law
Review (1972)
US Constitution, Art. I, §8, cl. 3 (the “Commerce Clause”)
o United States v. Lopez, 514 US 549 (1995)
o US v. Wilson, 133 F.3d 251 (4th Cir. 1997)
o SWANCC v. US Army Corps of Engineers, 531 US 159 (2001)
US Constitution, Art. III, §2, cl. 1 (the “Actual Case or Controversy” Clause)
o Mootness: Woodland Private Study Group v. NJ DEP, 846 F. 2d 921 (3rd Cir. 1988)
o Ripeness and Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies: New Hanover Township v.
Army Dept., 992 F. 2d 470 (3rd Cir. 1993)
o Standing:
 Sierra Club v. Morton, 405 US 727 (1972)
 US v. SCRAP, 412 US 669 (1973)
 Public Citizen v. Nat’l. Highway Traffic Safety Admin., 848 F. 2d 256 (DC Cir.
1988)
 Lujan v. Defenders of Wildlife, 487 US 871 (1990)
 City of Los Angeles v. Nat’l Highway traffic Safety Admin., 912 F. 2d 478
(1990)
 Lujan v. Defenders of Wildlife, 504 US 555 (1992)
Mar.
14
Scope of Federal Power (Chap. 1 cont.)
Doctrine of Nuisance:
o Miller v. Schoene, 276 US 272 (1928)
o Harrison v. Indiana Auto Shredders, 528 F. 2d 1107 (7th Cir. 1975)
Regulatory Takings:
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o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
Mar.
21
Pennsylvania Coal v. Mahon, 260 US 393 (1922)
Penn Central Transportation Company v. City of New York, 438 US 104 (1978)
Agins v. City of Tiburon, 447 US 255 (1980)
Loretto v. Teleprompter Manhattan CATV Corp., 458 US 419 (1982)
Ruckleshaus v. Monsanto Company, 467 US 986 (1984)
Keystone Bituminous Coal Association v. DeBenedictus, 480 US 470 (1987)
Nollan v. California Coastal Commission, 483 US 470 (1987)
Lucas v. South Carolina Coastal Council, 505 US 1003 (1992)
Palazzolo v. Rhode Island, 533 US 606 (2001)
National Environmental Policy Act (Chap. 10)
Calvert Cliffs’ Coordinating Comm. Inc. v. US, 449 F. 2d 1109 (DC Cir. 1971)
Citizens to Preserve Overton Park, Inc. v. Volpe, 401 US 402 (1971)
Hanley v. Mitchell, 460 F. 2d 640 (2nd Cir. 1972)
Hanley v. Kleindienst, 471 F. 2d 823 (2nd Cir. 1972)
Sierra Club v. Kleppe, 427 US 390 (1976)
Metropolitan Edison Co. v. People Against Nuclear Energy, 460 US 766 (1983)
Natural Resources Defense Council v. Hodel, 865 F. 2d 288 (DC Cir. 1988)
Robertson v. Methow Valley Citizens Council, 490 US 332 (1989)
Marsh v. Oregon Natural Resources Council, 490 US 360 (1989)
Mar.
28
Enforcement and Liability (Chap. 2)
Citizen’s Suits:
o Vieux Carre Property Owners, Residents & Assocs. V. Brown, 875 F. 2d 453 (5th
Cir. 1989)
o Friends of the Earth, Inc. v. Laidlaw Environmental Services, Inc., 528 US 167 (2000)
Administrative Procedure Act:
o Citizens to Preserve Overton Park, Inc. v. Volpe, 401 US 402 (1971)
o Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. NRDC, 435 US 519 (1978)
o Chevron USA Inc. v. NRDC, 467 US 837 (1984)
Criminal Liability:
o US v. Ellen, 961 F. 2d 462 (4th Cir. 1992)
o US v. Ming Hong, 242 F. 3d 528 (4th Cir. 2001)
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Apr.
4
Endangered Species Act
TVA v. Hill, 437 US 153 (1978)
Thomas v. Peterson, 753 F. 2d 754 (9th Cir. 1985)
Babbitt v. Sweet Home Chapter of Communities for a Greater Oregon, 515 US 687 (1995)
Arizona Cattle Growers’ Ass’n. v. USFWS, 273 F. 3d 1229 (9th Cir. 2001)
Apr.
11
Clean Air Act (Chap. 5)
Train v. NRDC, 421 US 60 (1975)
NRDC v. Train, 545 F.2d 320 (2nd Cir. 1976)
Union Electric v. EPA, 427 US 246 (1976)
Citizens Against the Refinery’s Effects, Inc. v. EPA, 643 F. 2d 183 (4th Cir. 1981)
National Mining Association v. EPA, 59 F. 3d 1351 (DC Cir. 1995)
Massachusetts v. EPA, 549 US 497 (2007)
Apr.
18
Clean Water Act (Chap. 6) and Oil Pollution Act (Chap. 7)
US v. Riverside Bayview Homes, Inc., 474 US 121 (1985)
Rapanos v. US, 547 US 715 (2006)
Arkansas v. Oklahoma, 503 US 91 (1992)
Avoyelles Sportmen’s League v. Marsh, 715 F. 2d 897 (5th Cir. 1983)
PUD No. 1 of Jefferson County v. WA Dept. of Ecology, 511 US 700 (1994)
Dioxin/Organochlorine Center v. EPA, 57 F. 3d 1517 (9th Cir. 1995)
Pronsolino v. Nastri, 291 F. 3d 1123 (9th Cir. 2002)
Environmental Protection Information Center v. Pacific Lumber Company, 301 F. Supp. 2d
1102 (ND CA 2004)
Apr.
25
CERCLA (Chap. 9) and RCRA (Chap. 3)
New York v. Shore Realty Corp., 759 F. 2d 1032 (2nd Cir. 1985)
US v. Fleet Factors Corp., 901 F. 2d 1550 (11th Cir. 1990)
Nurad, Inc. v. William E. Hooper & Sons Co., 966 F. 2d 837 (4th Cir. 1992)
Bob’s Beverage, Inc. v. Acme, Inc., 264 F.3d 692 (6th Cir. 2001)
Pneumo Abex Corp. v. High Point, Thomasville and Denton Railroad Co., 142 F. 3d 769 4th
Cir. 1998)
BNSF Railway Co. v. US, 129 S.Ct. 1870 (2009)
Kennecott Utah Copper Corp. v. USDOI, 88 F. 3d 1191 (DC Cir. 1996)
US v. Atlantic Research Corp., 551 US 128 (2007)
US v. Locke, 529 US 89 (2000)
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May
2
Ecosystem Markets & Final Review
Wetland Mitigation Banking:
http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/pdf/wetlands_mitigation_final_rule_4_10_08.pdf
Endangered Species Conservation Banks:
http://www.conservationfund.org/sites/default/files/USFWS_banking_guidance.pdf
Clean Air Act Markets: http://epa.gov/airmarkets
Water Quality Trading: http://water.epa.gov/type/watersheds/trading.cfm
Nutrient Trading: http://www.dep.state.pa.us/river/Nutrient%20Trading.htm;
About the Instructor: Braddock is an accomplished Attorney and Counselor at
Law with expertise in promoting sound environmental and land use planning,
resource management, and sustainable growth patterns. She possesses a
comprehensive knowledge of regulatory infrastructures across the country. She
holds a J.D. from Golden Gate University, San Francisco, and a B.A. from Mills
College, Oakland CA. She is a member of the Bar in California, Maryland,
Massachusetts, and Washington. She has written several books and publications
in the field, including the Wetlands Regulation: Case Law, Interpretation, and
Commentary, Washington Environmental Law Handbook and Wetlands: An
Introduction to Ecology, the Law, and Permitting.
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