Academic Programs
Environmental Compliance and the Role of Enforcement
Why do some companies comply with environmental laws while others do not? How can markets for endangered species be constrained? Is it possible that the way regulators design environmental programs invites fraud?
These questions are central to protecting public health and the environment. Environmental violations can damage the ozone layer, contaminate drinking water, threaten wildlife, and cause lasting harm to individuals and communities. Yet the causes of noncompliance can be better understood, and with limited enforcement resources, identifying the most effective solutions is critical to the many pressing environmental threats.
This is where the Institute for Environmental Enforcement comes in. The Institute seeks to develop the next generation of environmental attorneys who will bring new ideas, methodologies, and practical solutions to the environmental compliance challenges.
Through the Institute for Environmental Enforcement, students undertake an examination of the legal, regulatory, and practical challenges of environmental compliance and enforcement. In addition to coursework, the Institute enables students to research the causes of environmental violations, the effectiveness (or lack thereof) of enforcement strategies, and the appropriate role of government, industry, and legal practitioners in achieving better compliance outcomes. These opportunities include externships, interdisciplinary collaborations, review of existing enforcement policies and practices and other research projects, and work in support of IEE鈥檚 professional training workshops for current prosecutors, investigators, and technical personnel.
Workshops
The Institute aims to address the growing gap in the enforcement of environmental crime in New York. Working with state and local agencies and offices, IEE will leverage the knowledge and experience of individuals with decades of experience coupled with new methods of information gathering and analysis, to provide investigators, prosecutors and technical personnel with the forensic and legal tools needed to build and bring environmental criminal prosecutions across the state. The goal is to also develop a model that can be utilized by other states to enhance environmental criminal enforcement programs across the country. Participation in these workshops is offered by invitation.