California sea otters have come a long way from the 50-member population discovered off Big Sur in the early 1900s,…
Should property rights give way if environmental cleanups seem too costly?
Last week, the Supreme Court heard oral argument in Atlantic Richfield v. Christian, an important case concerning whether property owners…
How do you measure the value of a state forest?
That’s the implicit question underlying a lawsuit between Oregon counties and the state, in which a jury recently awarded the…
Should FEMA act as a national zoning board or use market incentives to reduce disaster risk?
Last week, a nominee to lead the Federal Emergency Management Agency generated fireworks when, during his confirmation hearing, he said…
Supreme Court wades back into the murky Clean Water Act
Since the 1980s, Maui County’s wastewater treatment plant has discharged millions of gallons of recycled water into groundwater. Over several…
Will Oregon reopen its water market?
Water markets are an essential tool for promoting efficient use of water and increasing water available for fish and other…
A flood of red tape: why is it harder to buy out flood prone properties than to rebuild?
This year, the Mississippi River experienced its longest flood on record, with parts of the river exceeding flood levels for…
Property rights are key to addressing pollution
For nearly 100 years, a copper smelter near Opportunity, Montana dumped tons of toxic metals, arsenic, and lead on its…
Why do we take some environmental impacts for granted?
As California tries to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire, the state has run into an unexpected obstacle: air pollution…
Insuring a future for apex predators
Where wildlife poses risks to those who live and work near them, people predictably take steps to reduce their liability.…
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