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.

Summarizes major federal environmental protection laws. Describes for each state main environmental agencies and media specific programs, coastal zone management, utility transmission line siting, contacts for spill reporting, and permit fees.

The only book that covers the entire field of California environmental, land use, and natural resources law in a concise, user-friendly format. Authors Herson and Lucks have now thoroughly updated and expanded the first edition, includingSignificant updates to federal and state environmental law that occurred between 2008 and late 2016.An additional major chapter on international, national and state climate change law and policy.This book was written to serve the needs of planners, project applicants, developers, landowners, regulatory agency staff, consultants, attorneys, environmental managers, interested citizens, and students with a survey of California environmental law written for a general, non-technical audience.Written in non-technical language, the book comprehensively surveys the most important California environmental statutes and regulatory programs, as well as relevant federal environmental statutes and regulatory programs. It highlights landmark court cases and current policy issues, and provides practical tips on getting through the regulatory process successfully. To assist in more in-depth research, the book identifies sources of further information for each major program.

Devised to meet the ongoing challenge of identifying the skills and knowledge necessary for expanding the governing capacity of state and local authorities, this book discusses the fiscal consequences of get tough approaches to crime and presents more effective and less expensive policy options. Surveying the range of administrative and management practices employed by state governments, the editor and contributors explore the results of the governmental reform tradition, the impact of federalism and intergovernmental relations, and the effects of political culture on state government by focusing on economic development, welfare, corrections, and environmental programs and policies.