cover image Environmental Change: Federal Courts and the EPA

Environmental Change: Federal Courts and the EPA

Rosemany O'Leary, Rosemary C'Leary. Temple University Press, $49.5 (256pp) ISBN 978-1-56639-095-8

The first Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), William Ruckelshaus, sought enforcement of environmental laws through the courts. Over the years, litigation has proliferated as large companies, not-for-profit environmental groups and, lately, other federal agencies, including the departments of Energy and Defense, have challenged EPA regulations with varied results (one case shut down the EPA's pesticide program for six years). O'Leary, who teaches public administration at Syracuse University, presents case studies of judicial/EPA interaction in such environmental policy areas as water quality, hazardous waste, toxic substances, pesticides and air pollution. Moving from the specific to the general in the final chapter, she discusses the cumulative effects of federal court rulings on EPA policies and administration. This study will be more useful to students and professionals in public service than to the general reader. (Nov.)