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Post a CommentEnvironmental Law Basics 3/21/2008 Environmental law encompasses the controls imposed to protect the natural and man-made environment as well as the health of living beings. Environmental law practice encompasses compliance counseling, transaction guidance and litigation involving those controls.   Compliance Counseling: The practice of environmental law involves counseling on compliance with complex statutes, regulations, case law, and policy directives that govern, for example:   • Air pollution                                                           • Water pollution • Drinking water                                                      • Wetlands • Floodplains                                                           • Land preservation and management • Resource conservation and management     • Oceans and coasts • Wildlife and its habitat                                         • Historic preservation • Solid, hazardous, toxic, infectious                     • Noise and radioactive substances and wastes   Environmental law practice also involves counseling and navigating clients through procedures such as:   • Environmental impact reviews • Obtaining and renewing permits, licenses and other governmental approvals to construct and operate facilities • The creation, maintenance and modification of environmental management systems • Environmental auditing of operations • Community and worker notification and safety requirements • Environmental due diligence procedures (e.g., in purchases, leases and corporate acquisitions and mergers) • Risk management and the use of environmental insurance • Arranging for the transport of dangerous goods • Investigation, remediation and redevelopment of contaminated sites • Emergency and disaster planning and response   Transactional Guidance: Because environmental controls are pervasive, environmental lawyers are involved in a wide array of transactions, as diverse as real estate sales; leasing and development; private- and public-sector finance; hiring and supervising environmental consultants, engineers and contractors; labor negotiations; land-use planning and agreements; and natural resource allocation and use agreements; as well as having input in the drafting of laws and regulations at all levels of government.   Litigation: Environmental law practice involves practice before administrative agencies; alternative dispute resolution; lawsuits involving tort actions between private parties as well as between private parties and government entities; civil enforcement; citizen suits; and criminal enforcement. Return to Environmental Law Overview for New Attorneys Back to top

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