This course provides an in-depth examination of the legal frameworks governing the management, allocation, and protection of natural resources in the United States. Emphasizing the interrelationship between law, policy, science, and environmental values, students will explore how federal and state governments regulate and allocate key resources—such as water, minerals, forests, rangelands, wildlife, and energy.
The course covers foundational statutes, doctrines from public and administrative law, principles of federalism and property rights, and emerging tensions surrounding environmental justice, climate change, and Indigenous sovereignty. Special attention is paid to the historical development of natural resource law, the role of federal public lands, and the procedural mechanisms used to balance economic development with environmental protection.
Course Objectives:
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
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Analyze the statutory and constitutional foundations of natural resources law.
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Understand the legal and institutional frameworks for managing key resource categories.
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Evaluate the roles of federal agencies such as BLM, USFS, NPS, FWS, and NOAA.
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Identify the rights and interests of private parties, states, tribes, and the public.
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Apply legal doctrines (e.g., prior appropriation, public trust, multiple use) to real-world scenarios.
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Examine conflicts between resource exploitation and environmental sustainability.
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Engage critically with emerging trends in climate resilience and Indigenous resource governance.
