Researching Environmental Law: Environmental Legal System

Listed here are a few of the major laws and their corresponding regulations in this subject. The statute link is to its codification in the United States Code (U.S.C.). The Parallel Table of Authorities and Rules lists rulemaking authority for provisions in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) by listing U.S.C. provisions next to corresponding CFR provisions. This is intended to show the wide range of legal materials in environmental law, not to be a comprehensive list. 

• Clean Air Act - 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.; multiple provisions in Title 40 CFR
• Clean Water Act - 33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.; multiple provisions in Title 40 CFR
• Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA/Superfund) - 42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.; multiple provisions in Title 40 CFR
• Endangered Species Act (ESA) - 7 U.S.C. 136 and 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.; provisions in Titles 7, 40, 53, etc. 
• Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act - 33 U.S.C. 1401 et seq.; provisions in Titles 32, 33, and 40.
• National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) - 42 U.S.C. 4321-4370; provisions in Titles 7, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 23, 24, etc. 
• Oil Pollution Act (OPA) - 33 U.S.C. § 2701 et seq.; provisions in Titles 15, 33, and 40
• Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) - 42 U.S.C. 6901-6992k; multiple provisions in Title 40 CFR
• Toxic Substances Control Act - 15 U.S.C. 2601 et seq.; provisions in Titles 2, 19, and 40 CFR

These citations are read as:

• 42 U.S.C. 7401: Title 42, United States Code, section 7401
• The CFR is cited in the same way - 40 CFR 8.8: Title 40, Code of Federal Regulations, section 8.8

The following web site provides a very good overview of federal environmental law:

• Key Federal Environmental Laws

(Thanks to Eric for finding this web site and suggesting we add it to our list of environmental law resources!)

Listed here are a few of the major state laws and their corresponding regulations in this subject. All statutes are cited to the Revised Statutes published in the Louisiana Statutes Annotated (LSA), available on Westlaw and in print. (This is the official, annotated laws published by West. LA statutes can also be found on the Louisiana Legislature's website, but it does not have comments or any annotations.) LA statutes may also be cited as LA RS for the Louisiana Revised Statutes. All regulations in the Louisiana Administrative Code can be found online through the Division of Administration. Note that the current collection of regulations is called "Louisiana Regulations" on Westlaw, rather than Administrative Code. This is intended to show the wide range of legal materials in environmental law, not to be a comprehensive list. 

• ​Louisiana Air Control Law - LSA 30:2051; LA Air Quality Regulations - La. Admin. Code 33:III.101 et seq
• Louisiana Water Control Law - LSA 30:2071 et seq.; LA Water Quality Regulations - La. Admin. Code 33:IX.101 et seq.
• Louisiana Hazardous Waste Control Law - LSA 30:2171 et seq.; LA Hazardous Waste and Hazardous Materials - La. Admin. Code 33:V.101 et seq.
• Louisiana Solid Waste Management and Resource Recovery Law - LSA 30:2151 et seq.; LA Solid Waste - La. Admin. Code 33:VII.101 et seq.
• Louisiana Coastal Zone Management Act a.k.a. State and Local Coastal Resources Management Act - LSA 49:214.21 et seq.
• Louisiana Scenic Rivers Act - LSA 56:1840; La. Admin. Code 76:IX.
• Louisiana Threatened and Endangered Species Conservation Act - LSA 56:1901 et seq.

These citations are read as:

• LSA 30:2051 - Louisiana Revised Statutes Annotated Title 30, section 2051.
• LA Admin. Code 33:IX.101 - Louisiana Administrative Code Title 33, Part 9, section 101.

Listed here are federal agencies involved in environmental law issues. This is intended primarily to show the wide range of government involvement, not to be a comprehensive list.

• Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry - Department of Health and Human Services
• Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service - Department of Agriculture
• Army Corps of Engineers - Department of Defense
• Army Environmental Command - Department of Defense
• Department of Energy - (Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, Office of Environmental Management)
• Department of the Interior (Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, etc.) 
• Environment and Natural Resources Division - Department of Justice
• Environmental Protection Agency
• Forest Service - Department of Agriculture
• National Defense Center for Energy and Environment - Department of Defense
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - Department of Commerce
• Natural Resources Conservation Service - Department of Agriculture
• Nuclear Regulatory Commission
• Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations, and Environment - Department of Defense
• Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration - Department of Transportation 

Note that there are also two offices within the Executive Office of the President which are involved in making and enforcing environmental law: the Council on Environmental Quality and the Office of Science and Technology Policy.

Listed here are state agencies involved in environmental law issues. This is intended primarily to show the wide range of government involvement, not to be a comprehensive list.

• Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ)
• Department of Natural Resources (LDNR)
• Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF)
• Department of Public Safety and Corrections 
• Department of Health (LDH) - Note this is a recent name change from Department of Health and Hospitals (LDHH)
• Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF)
• Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinator
• Division of Historic Preservation - Department of Culture, Recreation, and Tourism
• State Land Office - Division of Administration