This advanced, practice-focused seminar examines how environmental impact assessments (EIAs) shape the development of energy projects in the United States and cross-border contexts. EIAs are often the critical legal bottleneck in project development—determining whether, when, and how projects proceed.
The course focuses on how lawyers actually navigate EIA processes: advising developers, working with agencies, coordinating consultants, managing stakeholder engagement, and mitigating litigation risk. Students will analyze federal frameworks (especially NEPA), state-level analogues, and international EIA regimes, with a focus on energy infrastructure such as pipelines, renewable projects, transmission lines, and offshore development.
The seminar treats EIA law as a strategic practice area, where procedural compliance, scientific analysis, and political dynamics converge. Students will develop practical skills in issue spotting, regulatory navigation, documentation strategy, and dispute avoidance.
This course assumes prior study of environmental law or administrative law.
Course Objectives
By the end of the course, students should be able to:
1. Understand the structure and purpose of environmental impact assessments.
2. Navigate federal and state EIA requirements for energy projects.
3. Identify key legal risks in project development.
4. Coordinate environmental review processes across agencies.
5. Evaluate scientific and technical components of EIAs.
6. Anticipate and mitigate litigation risks.
7. Advise clients on permitting strategy and timelines.
8. Understand stakeholder and community engagement requirements.
9. Analyze cross-border and international EIA frameworks.
10. Develop practical legal strategies for project approval.
