Since 1972, the Environmental Protection Agency has regulated discharges of pollution to “waters of the United States.” The meaning of … More
Category: Clean Water Act
Markets for clean water
Last month, the Environmental Protection Agency published a memo encouraging states, tribes, and local governments to look to markets for … More
An antiquated California water law encourages political conflict rather than market transactions
California ski resorts are experiencing record snowfall this February, thanks to a storm system that has dropped an estimated 18 … More
Another downside to pervasive permitting: what happens when the government shuts down?
One of the lessons of the recent government shutdown (and expected near miss on a second one) is that there … More
Environmental restoration requires better incentives
A driving force behind technological innovation and prosperity is “creative destruction.” Old enterprises and technologies are constantly replaced by new … More
How far upstream should federal regulation extend?
Yesterday, the Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers published their proposed rewrite of the “waters of the United … More
Cleaning the commons
The ocean is a global commons. It’s owned by no one, controlled by no one, and open to all. Predictably, … More
Property rights can resolve conflict over Chesapeake Bay oysters
The Chesapeake Bay is the nation’s largest estuary, with a watershed that includes six states. Because of its size and … More
Can states inject more local knowledge into water permitting?
Many federal environmental laws seek to leverage local knowledge by inviting states and local governments to participate in the federal … More
No suit for you: Federal court dismisses California climate change cases against oil companies
Cities across the country have brought novel lawsuits seeking to hold oil companies responsible for climate change—in particular, the city’s … More
