Full Description
Written by two internationally respected authors, this unique primer distills the environmental law and policy of the United States into a practical guide for a nonlegal audience, as well as for lawyers trained in other regions. The first part of the book explains the basics of the American legal system: key actors, types of laws, and overarching legal strategies for environmental management. The second part delves into specific environmental issues (pollution, ecosystem management, and climate change) and how American law addresses each. Chapters include summaries of key concepts, discussion questions, and a glossary of terms, as well as informative "spotlights"—brief overviews of topics. With a highly accessible structure and useful illustrative features, A Guide to U.S. Environmental Law is a long-overdue synthetic reference on environmental law for students and for those who work in environmental policy or environmental science. Pairing this book with its companion, A Guide to EU Environmental Law, allows for a comparative look at how two of the most important jurisdictions in the world deal with key environmental problems.
Contents
List of Illustrations
List of Spotlight Boxes
Preface
Part One. Building Blocks of U.S. Environmental Law
1. Regulating Environmental Impacts
2. Key Actors
3. Types of Law
4. Regulatory Instruments
Part Two. U.S. Environmental Law
5. Contextualizing U.S. Environmental Law
6. Pollution Control
Air Pollution
Water Pollution
Soil Pollution
Toxic Substances
Waste Management
7. Ecosystem Management
Biodiversity
Wildlife
Management of Special Ecosystems: Wetlands
Land Management and Public Lands
Agriculture
8. Climate Change
Mitigation
Adaptation and Natural Hazards
Subnational Approaches
Conclusions
Acknowledgments
Appendix. Time Line of U.S. Environmental Law
Additional Resources
Glossary
Index
