Environmental law courses concentrate a law education on environmental procedures and this covers environmental enforcement. All law schools that have specialized training in environmental law have a course in environmental enforcement. This course looks at the procedures that lawyers use to enforce the environmental laws and statutes. Everything from criminal enforcement to civil enforcement procedures are covered in this environmental law course. The course also covers some state environmental statutes, but primarily concentrates on regulations set out by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Hazardous waste law is another environmental law course that is required as part of the law program for lawyers concentrating on environmental law. Most of this course covers the congressional acts passed that concern the appropriate handling of hazardous waste. These acts are covered in two different laws passed by congress, The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, known as CERCLA, and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, known as RCRA. Lewis and Clark Law School teaches this environmental law course and places an emphasis on the CERCLA over the RCRA.
Both the University of South Carolina School of Law and Lewis and Clark Law School hve a course in international environmental law. This environmental law course covers the responsibility of governments and other agencies around the world in the best ways to enforce and develop international environmental laws. The course explores the consequences of environmental effects that harm all nations, such as depletion of the ozone layer, global warming and the effects of harm to the ocean's resources. The international environmental law course also discusses treaties between nations and how international environmental law can play a part in the negotiations.
Energy law discusses the part that energy regulations play in environmental issues. This environmental law course covers primarily electricity regulations since the production of energy in the United States is more widespread than any other energy source. The mining and extraction of coal, natural gas and oil are portions of this course because these three energy sources affect the environment the most. The course does not cover the exploration of these energy sources or the development of these energy sources, but does include alternative sources of energy and the policies along with the regulations.