The History of U.S. Environmental Law

Environmental laws—laws designed to regulate human behavior to reduce the negative effect of such behavior on the environment and the citizenry—impact so many parts of our lives. For example, what we eat and drink, where we live, what vehicles we drive, and what we can manufacture, sell, and buy are all dependent on environmental laws. Environmental law has not always been so pervasive. Although the history of U.S. environmental law can be traced all the way to the founding fathers, and before them, to British common law doctrines, the great bulk of present U.S. environmental law did not exist until the late 1960s.

The History of U.S. Environmental Law examines the panorama of U.S. environmental law history—the major statutes, treaties, cases, administrative rules, and regulations that comprise this complex, interrelated body of laws. Additionally, this book sketches the relationship between the personalities and political movements that have played such a crucial role in the making of U.S. environmental law.