Should the EPA regulate fracking more heavily? Currently, states that benefit financially from fracking regulate the industry.
In July 2019, the Maryland Court of Appeals ruled that the state’s Public Service Commission has the final say on the siting of solar and wind energy projects, prompting concerns by local governments over how to protect farmland from development.
Whether a project is one of “special merit” is often a “tug of war” among preservationists, developers, neighbors, and the community-at-large. One way to tug towards special merit status is to incorporate eco-friendly features into the new development.
Scientists have recently discovered that the Thwaites Glacier, a key component of the West Antarctic glacial system, is melting faster than expected. Since many of the world’s population and financial centers are located along coastlines, the situation unfolding at the Thwaites Glacier is particularly alarming. How drastically are melting glaciers impacting sea levels, and how will governments respond to these shifts?
Pork is a big part of the American diet, but pig farming has serious environmental and human health consequences. North Carolina is one of the biggest pork producers in the country, but its state legislature, like many other states, is putting pork profits over sufficient protections.
As rising sea levels threaten California’s coast, the state’s characteristic beaches have become a battleground for homeowners, cities, and state regulatory agencies. Because coastal adaptation policies often pit preservation of public beaches against private property rights, recent litigation over the issue has posed a difficult question for courts: Who should (literally) give ground?
In the wake of Hurricane Harvey, Houston has continued to develop at an incredible rate. Historically, the city and its residents have strongly opposed zoning, but development in floodplains has sparked a debate about how expansion should look for the booming city. How can Houston continue to grow while ensuring the safety of its residents?
The Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971 protected horses and burros in the American West. Now the population has recovered (and then some). How do federal agencies approach increasingly conflicting mandates for public land management?
Florida’s Gulf Coast is known for its white beaches, lush plant and aquatic life, and unique wildlife. But this verdant paradise is threatened by the rise of red tides: harmful algae blooms that harm Florida’s economy, the health of coastal residents, and a very fragile ecosystem. What can the legal system do to protect Florida’s coast?
