The book begins with an examination of various conceptions of justice, studies about disparities in environmental harms and benefits, and theories concerning the causes of such inequities. It then looks at environmental justice in a variety of regulatory contexts, including program design, standard setting, permitting, enforcement, cleanup, and brownfield redevelopment. The concluding chapters explore various tools used in the effort to achieve environmental justice, including citizen suit enforcement of environmental laws, claims brought under the Equal Protection Clause and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, and various non-litigation strategies, including land use and planning tools, disclosure laws, and collaborative projects. A large chapter is devoted to Native American issues.
The book is designed for use in a single semester seminar course, and each of the 16 chapters roughly corresponds to a week's worth of reading. It can also be used as a supplement in other environmental, land use, or civil rights classes in which the professor wishes to cover selected issues in environmental justice.
A teacher's manual is forthcoming.