The Environmental Law Handbook by Sullivan and Bell: What You Need to Know About the Major Environmental Laws in the US
# Environmental Law Handbook Sullivan PDF Download ## Introduction - What is the Environmental Law Handbook? - Who are the authors and editors? - Why is it a useful resource for environmental professionals and students? ## Overview of Environmental Law - What are the fundamentals of environmental law? - What are the major environmental laws in the US? - How are environmental laws enforced and what are the potential liabilities? ## Key Topics Covered by the Environmental Law Handbook - Clean Air Act - Clean Water Act - Resource Conservation and Recovery Act - Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act - Toxic Substances Control Act - Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act - Endangered Species Act - National Environmental Policy Act - Climate Change Law and Policy ## Benefits of Reading the Environmental Law Handbook - How does the handbook provide clear and accessible explanations of environmental laws and regulations? - How does the handbook offer expert legal insight into new and evolving environmental issues? - How does the handbook provide reliable compliance and management guidance for environmental businesses and organizations? ## How to Download the Environmental Law Handbook PDF - What are the options for downloading the handbook online? - What are the advantages and disadvantages of each option? - What are some tips for finding and accessing the handbook online? ## Conclusion - Summarize the main points of the article - Emphasize the value of the handbook for environmental law practitioners and learners - Provide a call to action for downloading the handbook ## FAQs - What is the latest edition of the Environmental Law Handbook? - How often is the handbook updated? - How can I get a hard copy of the handbook? - How can I contact the authors or editors of the handbook? - Where can I find more resources on environmental law? # Environmental Law Handbook Sullivan PDF Download ## Introduction If you are interested in learning about the major environmental laws and regulations in the United States, you might want to check out the Environmental Law Handbook by Thomas F. P. Sullivan and Christopher Bell. This handbook is a comprehensive, up-to-date, and easy-to-read guide for environmental professionals, professors, and students who want to understand the legal framework and practical implications of environmental law. The Environmental Law Handbook was first published in 1973, just three years after Congress passed the first environmental law in 1970. Since then, the handbook has been revised and updated regularly to reflect the changes and developments in environmental law and policy. The latest edition of the handbook is the 23rd edition, which was published in 2017 by Bernan Press. The handbook covers a wide range of topics, from the fundamentals of environmental law to the specific requirements and challenges of various environmental statutes and regulations. The handbook also provides expert legal insight into new and evolving issues, such as climate change, oil pollution, and pollution prevention. Moreover, the handbook offers reliable compliance and management guidance for businesses and organizations that need to comply with environmental laws and avoid potential liabilities. In this article, we will give you an overview of the Environmental Law Handbook by Sullivan and Bell, and show you how you can download a PDF version of the handbook online. We will also answer some frequently asked questions about the handbook and provide some additional resources for further learning. ## Overview of Environmental Law Before we dive into the details of the Environmental Law Handbook, let us first review some basic concepts and principles of environmental law. Environmental law is a branch of law that deals with the protection and management of natural resources and human health from pollution and other environmental harms. Environmental law can be divided into two main categories: statutory law and common law. Statutory law refers to the laws that are enacted by legislative bodies, such as Congress or state legislatures. Statutory laws are usually codified in statutes or codes that specify the rights and obligations of various parties involved in environmental issues. Statutory laws can also delegate authority to administrative agencies, such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to promulgate rules and regulations that implement and enforce the statutes. Common law refers to the laws that are derived from judicial decisions or court rulings. Common law can be based on precedents, customs, or equity. Common law can also fill in the gaps or resolve ambiguities in statutory law. Common law can create or modify legal doctrines, such as nuisance, trespass, negligence, or strict liability, that can be applied to environmental disputes. Environmental law in the US is a complex and dynamic field that involves multiple levels of government (federal, state, and local), multiple branches of government (legislative, executive, and judicial), multiple sources of law (statutes, regulations, cases), and multiple stakeholders (public, private, non-governmental). Environmental law can also interact with other areas of law, such as constitutional law, administrative law, property law, contract law, tort law, criminal law, international law, and human rights law. One of the main challenges of environmental law is to balance the competing interests and values of different parties regarding the use and conservation of natural resources and human health. Environmental law aims to achieve various goals, such as: - Protecting public health and welfare from harmful pollutants - Preserving biodiversity and ecosystems - Promoting sustainable development and resource efficiency - Preventing or mitigating environmental degradation and climate change - Ensuring environmental justice and equity - Fostering public participation and access to information - Enhancing global cooperation and compliance To achieve these goals, environmental law employs various tools and mechanisms, such as: - Setting standards and limits for emissions or discharges - Requiring permits or licenses for certain activities or facilities - Imposing taxes or fees for pollution or resource use - Providing subsidies or incentives for pollution prevention or reduction - Establishing markets or trading schemes for emissions or credits - Mandating disclosure or reporting of environmental information - Enforcing penalties or sanctions for violations or non-compliance - Providing remedies or compensation for damages or injuries - Encouraging voluntary actions or initiatives for environmental improvement ## Key Topics Covered by the Environmental Law Handbook The Environmental Law Handbook covers a wide range of topics related to environmental law and policy in the US. The handbook consists of 18 chapters, each devoted to a specific environmental statute or regulation. The chapters are written by experts from the country's leading environmental law firms, who provide clear and accessible explanations, legal analysis, and practical guidance on each topic. The chapters are organized as follows: - Chapter 1: Fundamentals of Environmental Law - Chapter 2: Enforcement and Liability - Chapter 3: Clean Air Act - Chapter 4: Clean Water Act - Chapter 5: Resource Conservation and Recovery Act - Chapter 6: Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act - Chapter 7: Toxic Substances Control Act - Chapter 8: Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act - Chapter 9: Endangered Species Act - Chapter 10: National Environmental Policy Act - Chapter 11: Climate Change Law and Policy - Chapter 12: Oil Pollution Act - Chapter 13: Pollution Prevention Act - Chapter 14: Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act - Chapter 15: Occupational Safety and Health Act - Chapter 16: Safe Drinking Water Act - Chapter 17: Noise Control Act - Chapter 18: Coastal Zone Management Act In this section, we will briefly summarize some of the key topics covered by the handbook. ### Clean Air Act The Clean Air Act (CAA) is the primary federal law that regulates air pollution in the US. The CAA was first enacted in 1963 and has been amended several times since then. The CAA aims to protect public health and welfare from harmful air pollutants that can cause respiratory diseases, cancer, acid rain, ozone depletion, climate change, and other environmental problems. The CAA authorizes the EPA to set national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for six criteria pollutants: ozone, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and lead. The CAA also requires states to develop state implementation plans (SIPs) to achieve and maintain the NAAQS within their jurisdictions. The CAA also regulates hazardous air pollutants (HAPs), which are toxic substances that can cause serious health effects or adverse environmental impacts. The CAA requires the EPA to identify and list HAPs and to set emission standards for major sources of HAPs. The CAA also regulates mobile sources of air pollution, such as cars, trucks, buses, planes, trains, boats, and motorcycles. The CAA requires the EPA to set emission standards for new vehicles and engines and to establish fuel quality standards. The CAA also provides incentives for the development and use of clean fuels and alternative vehicles. The CAA also addresses global issues related to air pollution, such as stratospheric ozone depletion and climate change. The CAA regulates ozone-depleting substances (ODS), which are chemicals that can destroy the ozone layer that protects the Earth from harmful ultraviolet radiation. The CAA implements the Montreal Protocol, an international treaty that aims to phase out the production and consumption of ODS. The CAA also regulates greenhouse gases (GHGs), which are gases that can trap heat in the atmosphere and cause global warming. The CAA requires the EPA to regulate GHG emissions from major sources under various provisions of the act. ### Clean Water Act The Clean Water Act (CWA) is the primary federal law that regulates water pollution in the US. The CWA was first enacted in 1948 as the Federal Water Pollution Control Act and has been amended several times since then. The CWA aims to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nation's waters. The CWA authorizes the EPA to set water quality standards for various pollutants that can impair water quality and harm aquatic life. The CWA also requires states to establish water quality standards for their waters and to identify impaired waters that do not meet the standards. The CWA also requires states to develop total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) for impaired waters, which are plans that allocate pollutant loads among different sources and set pollution reduction goals. The CWA also regulates point sources of water pollution, which are discrete conveyances that discharge pollutants into waters of the US. The CWA requires point sources to obtain permits under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program. The NPDES program sets effluent limitations and monitoring requirements for point sources based on technology-based standards or water quality-based standards. The NPDES program covers various types of point sources, such as industrial facilities, municipal wastewater treatment plants, stormwater discharges, concentrated animal feeding operations, and vessel discharges. The CWA also regulates nonpoint sources of water pollution, which are diffuse sources that run off from land or air into waters of the US. The CWA requires states to develop nonpoint source management programs to control and reduce nonpoint source pollution. The CWA also provides financial and technical assistance to states and local governments for implementing best management practices (BMPs) for nonpoint source pollution. The CWA also addresses special issues related to water pollution, such as wetlands protection, oil spills, ocean dumping, and invasive species. The CWA regulates the discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of the US, including wetlands, under Section 404 of the act. The CWA requires the US Army Corps of Engineers and the EPA to issue permits for such discharges and to ensure that they do not have significant adverse impacts on the aquatic environment. The CWA also regulates the discharge of oil or hazardous substances into waters of the US under Section 311 of the act. The CWA requires the EPA and the US Coast Guard to establish spill prevention, control, and countermeasure (SPCC) plans and to respond to oil spills. The CWA also regulates the dumping of material into ocean waters under the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act (MPRSA), which is also known as the Ocean Dumping Act. The CWA requires the EPA and the US Army Corps of Engineers to issue permits for ocean dumping and to ensure that it does not pose unreasonable risks to human health or the marine environment. The CWA also regulates the introduction of invasive species into waters of the US under the National Invasive Species Act (NISA), which is also known as the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act. The CWA requires the US Coast Guard and the EPA to establish ballast water management programs and to prevent or control the spread of invasive species. ### Resource Conservation and Recovery Act The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) is the primary federal law that regulates solid waste and hazardous waste in the US. The RCRA was first enacted in 1976 and has been amended several times since then. The RCRA aims to protect human health and the environment from the potential hazards of waste disposal, to conserve energy and natural resources, to reduce the amount of waste generated, and to ensure that wastes are managed in an environmentally sound manner. The RCRA authorizes the EPA to set standards for the generation, transportation, treatment, storage, and disposal of solid waste and hazardous waste. The RCRA also requires waste handlers to obtain permits or authorization from the EPA or authorized states for their waste management activities. The RCRA also establishes a cradle-to-grave tracking system for hazardous waste, which requires waste generators, transporters, and facilities to use uniform hazardous waste manifest forms to document the movement and disposition of hazardous waste. The RCRA also regulates underground storage tanks (USTs) that contain petroleum or hazardous substances. The RCRA requires UST owners and operators to register their USTs with the EPA or authorized states, to comply with leak detection, prevention, and correction requirements, and to demonstrate financial responsibility for potential releases. The RCRA also addresses special issues related to waste management, such as recycling, composting, land disposal restrictions, corrective action, mixed waste, medical waste, mining waste, and military munitions. The RCRA encourages waste reduction and recycling through various programs and incentives. The RCRA also regulates the land disposal of hazardous waste under Subtitle C of the act. The RCRA requires the EPA to set treatment standards for hazardous waste before it can be disposed on land and to prohibit land disposal of certain wastes unless specific conditions are met. The RCRA also regulates corrective action for releases of hazardous waste or constituents from solid waste management units under Subtitle C of the act. The RCRA requires owners and operators of hazardous waste facilities to investigate and clean up any contamination at their sites. The RCRA also regulates mixed waste, which is waste that contains both hazardous waste and radioactive material. The RCRA requires coordination between the EPA and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for regulating mixed waste. The RCRA also regulates medical waste, which is waste generated by health care facilities that may pose infectious or other risks. The RCRA requires states to develop medical waste management plans and programs. The RCRA also regulates mining waste, which is waste generated by extraction or beneficiation of ores or minerals. The RCRA exempts certain mining wastes from Subtitle C regulation but requires them to be regulated under Subtitle D of the act as solid wastes. The RCRA also regulates military munitions, which are weapons or ammunition used by the Department of Defense (DOD) or its contractors. The RCRA requires DOD to manage its munitions in accordance with Subtitle C or D regulations depending on their status. ### Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act ### Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) is the primary federal law that addresses the cleanup of hazardous substances that have been released into the environment. CERCLA was first enacted in 1980 and has been amended several times since then. CERCLA aims to protect public health and the environment from the threats posed by abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous waste sites. CERCLA authorizes the EPA to identify and prioritize sites that are contaminated with hazardous substances and to take remedial or removal actions to clean up the sites. CERCLA also authorizes the EPA to recover the costs of cleanup from potentially responsible parties (PRPs), who are persons or entities that have contributed to the contamination of a site. CERCLA also establishes a trust fund, known as the Superfund, which is financed by taxes on certain chemicals and petroleum products and by appropriations from Congress. The Superfund provides funding for EPA's cleanup activities and for emergency response actions. CERCLA also establishes a liability scheme that holds PRPs strictly, jointly, and severally liable for the costs of cleanup and for natural resource damages. This means that PRPs can be held liable regardless of fault, that PRPs can be held liable for the entire amount of cleanup costs or damages even if they only contributed a fraction of the contamination, and that PRPs can be sued by any other PRP for contribution or indemnification. CERCLA also provides some defenses and exemptions from liability for certain parties, such as innocent landowners, bona fide prospective purchasers, contiguous property owners, lenders, fiduciaries, de micromis parties, municipalities, and response action contractors. CERCLA also encourages public participation and community involvement in the cleanup process. CERCLA requires the EPA to provide notice and opportunity for comment to the public on various decisions and actions related to site cleanup. CERCLA also requires the EPA to establish community advisory groups (CAGs) at certain sites to facilitate communication and consultation between the EPA and the affected community. CERCLA also provides citizens with the right to sue PRPs or the EPA for failure to perform their duties under the act. ### Toxic Substances Control Act The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) is the primary federal law that regulates the production, distribution, use, and disposal of chemical substances that may pose unreasonable risks to human health or the environment. TSCA was first enacted in 1976 and has been amended several times since then. TSCA aims to prevent or reduce the exposure of people and wildlife to harmful chemicals. TSCA authorizes the EPA to collect information on existing and new chemical substances and to evaluate their potential risks. TSCA also requires manufacturers and processors of chemical substances to submit premanufacture notices (PMNs) or significant new use notices (SNUNs) to the EPA before they can produce or use new chemicals or significant new uses of existing chemicals. TSCA also requires manufacturers and processors of che