Environmental Law Research October 6, 2008

Where to Start  Shorter Overview: Environmental Law in a Nutshell  Grad, Treatise on Environmental Law  8 volume set, with analysis of statutes and regs. Also available on Lexis (recommended because Hofstra copy is out-of-date)  Rodgers, Environmental Law  4 volume set, analysis of statutes and regs. Also on Westlaw (ENVLAW)  With such complicated laws, don’t try to figure them out on your own.

Current Issues  Environmental Law Reporter  Comprehensive. Print, online, W: ELR, Lexis.  ID: PW: pessastro  Environment Reporter  Also daily and subject-specific BNA reporters  Free: NRDC and other groups provide legislative updates  EPA.gov

Federal Law Basics  Popular Name Table (print, Westlaw, free LII version)  USC or USCA is codified by subject—a statute in it may or may not have all of a particular Act and it will be numbered differently.  The public law, in Statutes at Large (print, Hein), will have the whole Act. (public laws also at thomas.loc.gov)

Easy Legislative History  HeinOnline  Lexis/Westlaw

Framework  Federal  Which Acts and Agencies?  State  “Cooperative federalism”  Local  Especially land use restrictions

Federal  If you don’t know the Act involved, or even if you do, start with a treatise or guide categorized by water, air, etc.

Which Agency?  EPA  Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, CERCLA, NEPA, FIFRA, etc.  Endangered Species Act  Dept. Interior: Fish and Wildlife Service; Dept. Commerce: National Marine Fisheries Service; NOAA  Council On Environmental Quality  NEPA

Government Websites  Science.gov (click on environment & environmental quality)  EPA.gov  Publications:    Data

State Information  Law.cornell.edu (law about, find by topic)  (state regulations resource locator)  Environment Reporter  Environmental Law Reporter

New York  Dept. of Environmental Conservation  Environmental Conservation Law (enabling legislation)  Free access to relevant Regs at dec.ny.gov and  Data at

Local  Don’t forget county and other entities  City and town laws at municode.com and generalcode.com