TERM TWO

TERM TWO:

See individual course descriptions for class dates and times.

ANIMAL WELFARE LAW

(2 CREDITS) ENV5422

June 20–23 and June 27–30, 1–4 pm

Heather Rally and Delcianna Winders

A broad and rapidly evolving field of law has developed concerning the welfare of animals that are used for a variety of human purposes, including food, entertainment, research, and companionship. Animals used for these purposes often endure a wide range of abuses that diminish animal welfare while also having an impact on humans. Public views about such uses of animals are rapidly changing. The class will combine traditional principles of animal welfare laws and advocacy with laws typically applied in the wildlife conservation context, such as the Endangered Species and Marine Mammal Protection Acts. This class will examine the role of law in understanding and reforming the relationship between humans and animals and improving the condition of animals maintained for human profit and entertainment. Students in the class will learn the role of legal institutions and regimes in promoting animal welfare. Past and current litigation, regulatory, and legislative efforts on behalf of animal welfare will be covered, with case studies and current developments.

ENVIRONMENTAL CRIMES

(2 CREDITS) ENV5480

June 20–23 and June 27–30, 1–4 pm

Deborah L. Harris

Environmental crime is the most common federal offense committed by U.S. corporations, and among the most profitable criminal activities in the world. Explore this specialized practice, from the relevant investigative agencies, through the benefits of “speaking” indictments, to the applicable federal sentencing guidelines. Students will examine the major pollution prevention and wildlife protection statutes, as well as the Title 18 offenses with which they are most often paired (e.g., conspiracy, false statements, obstruction of justice). Learn how these cases are used to change industry practice and raise public awareness of conduct that threatens human health and the environment.

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

(2 CREDITS) ENV5446

June 20–23 and June 27–30, 1–4 pm

Barry Hill

Since 1979, the environmental justice movement is aimed at avoiding, minimizing, or mitigating disproportionately adverse human health and environmental impacts, including social and economic impacts, on minority, indigenous, and/or low-income communities, and for those communities to be engaged meaningfully in environmental decision-making processes. This course examines this environmental and public health problem. It explores how environmental justice concerns are framed and addressed/resolved through, among other things, acts of civil disobedience; federal, state and local government initiatives; litigation; citizens’ suits; public comment letters; collaborative problem solving; and alternative dispute resolution. This course examines the extrinsic link between environmental justice and sustainable development, and how the EPA, the ABA, and NGOs have been engaged in a number of initiatives to secure sustainable communities for all in the U.S.

GLOBAL ENERGY LAW AND POLICY

(2 CREDITS) ENV5230

June 20–23 and June 27–30, 9 am–12 pm

Arturo Brandt LLM’04

Global Energy Law and Policy explores the current policy framework in a particular region outside of the United States with a focus on clean energy policies. The course will explore the region’s policy development process, the current energy policy framework, policies implementing global and regional climate commitments and emerging issues.

LAND CONSERVATION LAW

(2 CREDITS) ENV5474

June 20–23 and June 27–30, 9 am–12 pm

Jessica Jay JD’97

Increasingly important in our efforts to protect ecological diversity, climate resiliency, historic places, working lands, scenic viewsheds, open spaces, and public uses of land are conservation tools and processes such as donation of conservation easements, purchase of sensitive lands, and private/public partnerships for land conservation. Students will research and review the swiftly developing body of law and legal issues accompanying the use of conservation easements and will gain a practical understanding of both the legal and nonlegal dimensions of land conservation transactions involving conservation easements. In addition, students will actively engage in the progression of a conservation easement transaction, beginning with early negotiations, drafting, and financial/tax analysis, and proceeding along a spectrum to donation, amendment and termination evaluation, violation, and enforcement. Each student will be responsible for engaging in role-playing exercises throughout the conservation transaction process to assess various financial/tax scenarios, identify and resolve disputes related to the conservation transaction, and negotiate and draft a conservation easement.

BALANCING PERSPECTIVES IN COASTAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT: MAINE FIELD STUDY

(1 CREDIT) ENV5901.02

June 24–26, times tbd

Lindsay Leoni Bourgoine MELP’15 and Benjamin Leoni JD’11

This course will examine the common law and statutory underpinnings of coastal resource ownership and use. Taught along one of the longest coastlines in the U.S., this class will explore real life conflicts stemming from competing interests, including working waterfronts, energy development, conservation, and recreation. Given the field study nature, students will have the opportunity to visit a working waterfront and/or aquaculture facility and speak directly with leaders—from attorneys to fishermen—at the forefront of coastal resource conflict. Students will consider tools and policies to ensure a sustainable future for coastal communities.

SUSTAINABLE SOCIAL ENTERPRISES

(1 CREDIT) ENV5901.04

June 24–25, 9 am–12 pm and 1–4 pm

Melissa K. Scanlan

Shifting the global economy off of fossil fuels while pursuing the Sustainable Development Goals, such as reducing income inequality, requires harnessing the power of the private sector in new ways. Using a series of case studies of inspiring sustainability pathbreakers working in renewable energy, organic foods, water, finance, and fair trade, the course explores how social enterprises, such as cooperatives and B Corp, pursue the triple bottom line. After completing this course, students will understand the critical role of sustainable social enterprise design to our fossil-free future, and know how to draft purpose-infused governance documents to influence sustainability outcomes.