2023 Summer Session Classes
Term 1
ENG5510/Three Essentials of the Electric Grid: Engineering Essentials
This course sets out, in three linked modules, the fundamental knowledge that professionals should have for working in the closely intertwined fields of energy and the environment. Students may take one, two, or three modules for one credit each.
Professor(s)
Semester
2023 Summer Environmental - Term 1ENG5511/Three Essentials of the Electric Grid: Business Essentials
This course sets out, in three linked modules, the fundamental knowledge that professionals should have for working in the closely intertwined fields of energy and the environment. Students may take one, two, or three modules for one credit each.
Professor(s)
Semester
2023 Summer Environmental - Term 1ENG5512/Three Essentials of the Electric Grid: Legal Essentials
This course sets out, in three linked modules, the fundamental knowledge that professionals should have for working in the closely intertwined fields of energy and the environment. Students may take one, two, or three modules for one credit each.
Professor(s)
Semester
2023 Summer Environmental - Term 1ENV5423/Ocean & Coastal Law
Long neglected by lawmakers despite its essential ecological functions, the marine environment has increasingly been the focal point of conservation and natural resource management efforts. As a foundation for studying the laws that govern the marine environment, the course considers the natural components of estuarine, coastal, and marine ecosystems and the current conservation issues confronting them.
Professor(s)
Semester
2023 Summer Environmental - Term 1ENV5430/Ecology
Ecology is an integrative science that can provide insight into many contemporary environmental problems. Through visits to a variety of field sites in central Vermont, readings, and lectures, this course will explore the principles of ecology using a hands-on, interdisciplinary approach.
Professor(s)
Semester
2023 Summer Environmental - Term 1FAA5310/Cannabis Law
This course will survey historical and policy considerations relating to cannabis regulation and enforcement, explore the current and anticipated regulatory landscapes, and integrate considerations of note to practitioners in this rapidly developing field. While understanding the roots of cannabis prohibition is essential to our study, our conversation on contemporary regulation will focus primarily on transactional and administrative elements.
Professor(s)
Semester
2023 Summer Environmental - Term 1WRI7380/Advanced Environmental Legal Research
This one-credit course provides in-depth exposure to the most useful, efficient strategies and resources for environmental law research, including specialized science and statistical information resources, state, national, and international environmental law research, advanced administrative law research, legislative history, environmental updating services, etc. The course is designed to prepare students to research environmental legal materials and non-legal materials for use in law school and in practice.
Professor(s)
Semester
2023 Summer Environmental - Term 1Term 2
ANI5422/Animal Welfare Law
In recent years, 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 impacting humans.
Professor(s)
Semester
2023 Summer Environmental - Term 2EJU5446/ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
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 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.
Professor(s)
Semester
2023 Summer Environmental - Term 2ENG5230/Global Energy Law and Policy
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 regions policy development process, the current energy policy framework, policies implementing global and regional climate commitments and emerging issues.
Professor(s)
Semester
2023 Summer Environmental - Term 2ENV5247/Environmental Appeals
In this course we will examine the history and dynamics of judicial review of US EPA regulations and policies regarding greenhouse gas pollution. After looking at the Clean Air Act’s structure and the series of key Supreme Court and DC Circuit decisions concerning the application of the Clean Air Act to greenhouse gases, we will examine in detail a set of high-profile cases pending in the DC Circuit concerning the Biden Administration’s actions on vehicular GHG emissions.
Professor(s)
Semester
2023 Summer Environmental - Term 2ENV5472/LAW OF ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT
The concept of ecosystem management has been sweeping through federal and state resource agencies, altering their orientation toward resource use and conservation issues. This course examines the role of ecosystem management in the legal regimes for management of coastal, marine, forest, and other habitats and resources, exploring current practice and innovations underway.
Professor(s)
Semester
2023 Summer Environmental - Term 2ENV5474/Land Conservation Law
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.
Professor(s)
Semester
2023 Summer Environmental - Term 2Term 3
ENG5550/Renewable Energy Project Finance and Development
This course will provide an in-depth look at the legal and regulatory issues associated with the development and project financing of renewable energy projects such as wind, hydro, solar, and battery storage. After completing this course, students will have a solid understanding of how to help vet the economics of renewable projects and get them permitted, financed, built, hooked-up to the grid and operational.
Professor(s)
Semester
2023 Summer Environmental - Term 3ENV5223/Environmental Governance in the Developing World
This course introduces students to the challenges faced by developing countries in developing, implementing, and enforcing effective environmental governance systems. It compares systems of environmental governance in developing countries with a particular focus on countries in Asia and Africa. Many of these countries, despite contributing very little to the global environmental problems, are among the principal victims of them.
Professor(s)
Semester
2023 Summer Environmental - Term 3ENV5233/Environmental Governance and the Private Sector
This class examines the push for more private sector accountability and governance in environmental matters (such as ESG and CSR policies) and how this relates to legal requirements. The class also looks at private sector environmental governance. In particular, the class will examine the concept of business sustainability drivers and practice, private environmental governance, including the growth of market models, and what legal standards apply.
Professor(s)
Semester
2023 Summer Environmental - Term 3ENV5412/Biodiversity Protection
Across the globe, wildlife and its habitat are increasingly threatened by human-caused habitat destruction, exploitation, poaching, illegal trade, invasive species, disease, and climate change. This course examines what biodiversity is, the growing threats to it, and U.S. and international laws to combat those threats. The course focuses on statutes, case law, environmental ethics, and current controversies to highlight legal, scientific, and political strategies for protecting biodiversity. Particular emphasis is placed on the U.S. Endangered Species Act.
Professor(s)
Semester
2023 Summer Environmental - Term 3INT7435/The International Law of Food
This course, one of the few if not the only in the world to address this critical subject matter, identifies and analyzes contemporary international legal and policy issues related to food including supply, safety, security, subsidies, and trade. Students will master legal and structural analytical tools for addressing these increasingly important challenges of concern to all global citizens.
Professor(s)
Semester
2023 Summer Environmental - Term 3Term 4
ENV5224/Environmental Governance Field Study
Following completion of the Environmental Governance in the Developing World course in Term 3, students are invited to participate in an optional field trip, contingent on the state of travel restrictions, where they can examine firsthand how developing countries are using law to cope with environmental challenges. This trip will take place post-Term 4. Prerequisite: Environmental Governance in the Developing World.
Professor(s)
Semester
2023 Summer Environmental - Term 4ENV5425/Clean Transportation Law and Policy
Transportation is the leading source of climate pollution in the United States. This course is focused on a key pathway to reduce those harmful emissions: the electrification of our cars, trucks, and buses. We’ll examine the current federal landscape for regulation of tailpipe emissions and the range of clean transportation policy options, including a particular focus on the role of electric utilities and how electric vehicles can support a smarter, cleaner electricity grid.
Professor(s)
Semester
2023 Summer Environmental - Term 4ENV5462/Public Lands Management: Montana Field Study
The Montana Field Study is a unique experiential learning opportunity. This class focuses on National Forest Management. Students experience forest management, wilderness, recreation, and roadless issues first-hand, in the wilds of Montana and Idaho. Almost the entire class is held in the field; we camp and hike into remote places. Instructor permission is required; contact the Environmental Law Center for further information.
Professor(s)
Semester
2023 Summer Environmental - Term 4ENV5480/Environmental Crimes
Environmental crime is the most common federal offense committed by U.S. corporations, and among the most profitable criminal activity 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).
Professor(s)
Semester
2023 Summer Environmental - Term 4FAA5410/The Farm Bill
American farm and food policy has long been the subject of strenuous debate and criticism. In recent years, prominent criticism has come from a movement of consumer and environmental interests concerned that the way we eat and how we support producers impacts our health, natural resources and the environment. Other interests raise concerns that about Federal spending and government footprint. Regardless of the reason, all of them look to the farm bill.
Professor(s)
Semester
2023 Summer Environmental - Term 4Weekend Intensive
ANI5902.01/Undercover Investigations of Animal Operations
What are undercover investigations? Why do animal advocacy organizations conduct them? In this course, students will explore a variety of legal considerations as they relate to conducting undercover investigations of animal operations. Specifically, students will examine the intersection of criminal law, tort, and ethical issues, as well as what does and does not constitute actionable animal cruelty. We will discuss evidentiary issues, taking action/pursuing litigation, and corporate liability.
Professor(s)
Semester
2023 Summer Environmental – Weekend IntensiveEJU5211/Toxic Exposure and Health: Communities on the Front Lines
This class will examine the environmental health threat posed by the class of “forever” chemicals known as PFAS and consider the strengths and limitations of various legal tools and advocacy strategies to address the PFAS crisis. The class will look at the many difficulties posed by seeking to solve an environmental health problem once it has already proliferated throughout our society and economy.
Professor(s)
Semester
2023 Summer Environmental – Weekend IntensiveEJU5901.01/Racial Equity in Land, Farms & Food Systems
When the Constitution was drafted, Blacks were legally classified as property. Since then, the Emancipation Proclamation, 14th Amendment, and Civil Rights legislation have attempted to eliminate the anti-human treatment of the descendants of enslaved Africans. Unfortunately, these changes appear to be fundamentally at odds with American democracy’s allegiance to the Founding Fathers’ definition of property rights as witnessed in gross inequities throughout American institutions.
Professor(s)
Semester
2023 Summer Environmental – Weekend IntensiveENG5402/Offshore Wind Energy
Offshore wind development in the US is growing at a rapid pace as companies pour hundreds of millions of dollars to obtain offshore leases from the federal government and the right to invest billions more to develop, construct and operate massive offshore wind farms. This course will examine the statutory and regulatory frameworks that govern offshore renewable energy leases and the permitting requirements associated with project development and construction and the ways in which they have been challenged in the courts.
Professor(s)
Semester
2023 Summer Environmental – Weekend IntensiveENV5323/Balancing Perspectives in Coastal Resource Management: Maine Field Study
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 United States, 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 speak directly with leaders– from attorneys to fishermen– at the forefront of coastal resource conflict.
Professor(s)
Semester
2023 Summer Environmental – Weekend IntensiveENV5339/Sustainable Social Enterprises for the Fossil-Free Economy
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.
Professor(s)
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2023 Summer Environmental – Weekend IntensiveENV5901.01/Protecting Family Land (Heirs’ Property)
Introduces students to the major legal issues that arise regarding intergenerational, family-owned real estate commonly referred to as heirs’ property. The main topics will span owner rights and responsibilities, clearing title, policy, and succession planning. Also explores intersectional issues and how protecting heirs’ property can address them.
Professor(s)
Semester
2023 Summer Environmental – Weekend IntensiveFAA5350/Farmworkers and the Law
The approximately two million farmworkers who grow our food are essential to this country. Yet they are often overlooked in national policy efforts on issues ranging from immigration law to environmental justice. In some areas, like labor rights and occupational health and safety, they are explicitly denied certain basic protections. This course will detail farmworkers’ current living and working conditions as well as the history of their exclusion from key laws and regulations.