California ski resorts are experiencing record snowfall this February, thanks to a storm system that has dropped an estimated 18 … More
Category: Clean Water Act
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
Will WOTUS reform end wetland banking?
According to media reports, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt has sent his proposed revision of the WOTUS rule—the rule that defines … More
Environmental crusaders or ambulance chasers? Department of Justice takes on environmental litigation abuse
Earlier this month, the Department of Justice raised suspicions of litigation abuse under the Clean Water Act. In a rare … More