Environmental Law Case Briefs

Environmental law addresses the regulation of human activities that affect the natural environment. The course covers federal statutes like the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, NEPA, CERCLA, and the Endangered Species Act, along with common-law nuisance and the evolving role of agencies like the EPA.

The cases below include landmark decisions like Massachusetts v. EPA (EPA authority over greenhouse gases), Rapanos v. United States (Clean Water Act jurisdiction), and Lucas v. South Carolina Coastal Council (regulatory takings). You will also find cases on standing in environmental litigation, cost-benefit analysis, and citizen suit provisions.

Each brief is formatted for law-school study to help you prepare for class, build outlines, or review before exams.

Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation v. EPA
American Electric Power v. Connecticut
Arkansas v. Oklahoma
Association of Pacific Fisheries v. EPA
Babbitt v. Sweet Home Chapter of Communities
Baltimore Gas & Electric Co. v. NRDC
Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railway v. United States
Calvert Cliffs Coordinating Committee v. AEC
Calvert Cliffs v. AEC
Chemical Manufacturers Association v. Natural Resources Defense Council
Chemical Waste Management v. Hunt
City of Philadelphia v. New Jersey
Coeur Alaska, Inc. v. Southeast Alaska Conservation Council
Corrosion Proof Fittings v. EPA
County of Maui v. Hawaii Wildlife Fund
Decker v. Northwest Environmental Defense Center
Department of Transportation v. Public Citizen
Ethyl Corp. v. Environmental Protection Agency
Ethyl Corp. v. EPA
Friends of the Earth v. Laidlaw Environmental Services
Gwaltney of Smithfield v. Chesapeake Bay Foundation
Hanly v. Kleindienst
Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Ontario v. City of Detroit
Illinois Central Railroad v. Illinois
International Paper Co. v. Ouellette
International Paper v. Ouellette
Just v. Marinette County
Kleppe v. Sierra Club
Lead Industries Association v. EPA
Los Angeles v. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Marsh v. Oregon Natural Resources Council
Meghrig v. KFC Western
National Audubon Society v. Superior Court
National Audubon Society v. Superior Court of Alpine County
National Cotton Council v. EPA
Natural Resources Defense Council v. Costle
Natural Resources Defense Council v. EPA
New Energy Co. of Indiana v. Limbach
New York v. Shore Realty Corp.
Pacific Gas & Electric v. State Energy Resources Conservation
Palila v. Hawaii Department of Land
Pronsolino v. Nastri
PUD No. 1 of Jefferson County v. Washington Department of Ecology
Rapanos v. United States
Reserve Mining Co. v. EPA
Robertson v. Methow Valley Citizens Council
S.D. Warren Co. v. Maine Board of Environmental Protection
Sierra Club v. Costle
Sierra Club v. Morton
Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County v. Army Corps
Solid Waste Agency v. Army Corps
Strycker's Bay Neighborhood Council v. Karlen
Train v. Natural Resources Defense Council
Union Electric Co. v. EPA
United States v. Bestfoods
United States v. Riverside Bayview Homes
Weinberger v. Romero-Barcelo
Weyerhaeuser Co. v. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Winters v. Natural Resources Defense Council

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