Tarlton Law Library: Environmental Law & Litigation: Home

Introduction

This research guide provides an overview of federal and Texas resources in the area of environmental law and litigation, with some energy law sources covered in passing.

In general, when researching a topic within a substantive area of the law, one should start with secondary sources to find the leading and most relevant primary law. Once you have some citations in hand, look them up in primary sources. Be sure to check out the current awareness resources so that you stay abreast of developments throughout your research. See the library's guide to the legal research process for a more general overview.

Please note, access to certain databases linked in this guide may be restricted to UT Law or the UT community; please see the library's Databases page that lays out access privileges.

Related Resources at UT

Center for Energy & Environmental Resources
Kay Bailey Hutchison Center for Energy, Law & Business
An interdisciplinary academic center at UT created by the School of Law and the McCombs School of Business. Its mission is to enrich the educational experience of students interested in energy careers and to promote research and programs related to energy issues. The center has a particular focus on Latin America.
Environmental Science Institute
A multi-disciplinary institute for basic scientific research in environmental studies.
Environmental Studies Databases
Resources to help with interdisciplinary research.

Navigating Tarlton's Collection

Whether seeking print or online materials, here are some tips for using TALLONS, the online catalog:

Helpful call number ranges:

K 3581 - 3597 (Int'l and Comparative Environmental Law)
K 3981 - 3992 (Int'l and Comparative Energy Law)
KF 2120 - 2140 (U.S. Energy Law)
KF 3775 - 3816 (U.S. Environmental Law)
KF 5551 - 5590 (U.S. Water Law)
KF 8911 - 8925 (U.S. Trial Practice)
KFT 1554 (Texas Enviromental Law)
KFT 1646 (Texas Water Law)

Helpful subject headings:

Air -- Pollution -- Law And Legislation...

Environmental law...

Water -- Law and legislation...

Additional Research Guides & Bibliographies

Environmental Crimes (Pace Law Library)
Environmental Law Lexicon
Reference guide on scientific terminology and legal meanings that these terms have acquired through their use in statues, regulations and judicial decisions. On Lexis (login required)
Environmental Law Research Sources (Vermont Law School)
Links to carefully selected Internet resources that inform the practice of environmental law. It is continually expanding, linking to both broad (Environmental Organizations, etc.) and specific (Water Law, etc.) web sites.
Environmental Legal Research Guide (Pace Law Library)
Federalist Society's Conservative & Libertarian Legal Scholarship: Environmental Law
A list of conservative and libertarian legal scholarship in the area.
Hydrofracking Guide (Pace Law Library)
Int'l Environmental Law Research (GW Law Library)
Specialized Legal Research - Penny A. Hazelton
Texas Water Resources Research Guide (Texas Legislative Reference Library)
Includes lists of water-related agencies, organizations, databases, and research aids as well as citations to articles and reports published between 2008 and 2014. Focuses on water resources development, management, and use; water rights and allocation; and water planning and research.

Related Organizations & Resources

ABA's Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources
Section within professional legal organization that serves as forum for lawyers working in areas related to the environment, natural resources, and energy.
Advanced Energy Legislation Tracker
Database that contains information for clean energy legislation across all 50 states from Colorado State University’s Center for the New Energy Economy.
American College of Environmental Lawyers (ACOEL)
A professional association of lawyers who practice in the field of environmental law.
Association for Conflict Resolution (ACR) Environment & Public Policy Section
Professional organization in the environmental and public dispute resolution field.
Border Environment Cooperation Commission (BECC)
Bi-national institution created in 1993 by the Governments of the United States and Mexico and charged with helping to improve the environmental conditions of the U.S.-Mexico border region.
Center for Climate Change Law, Columbia Law School
Develops legal techniques to fight climate change, trains students and lawyers in their use, and provides up-to-date resources on key topics in climate law and regulation.
Climate Attribution Database
A thematically organized repository of scientific information relevant to climate litigation and policy-making. A product of an ongoing collaboration between the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law and the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory.
Energy In Depth (EID)
Launched by the Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA) in 2009, Energy In Depth (EID) is a research, education and public outreach campaign focused on getting the facts out about the promise and potential of responsibly developing America’s onshore energy resource base.
Environment Texas: Research and Policy
A 501(c)(3) organization focused on local, state and national debates over the quality of the environment.
Environmental Law Institute (ELI)
Non-partisan research and education center working to strengthen environmental protection by improving law and governance worldwide. Includes Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Litigation Database.
Harvard Project on Climate Agreements
Helps identify and advance scientifically sound, economically rational, and politically pragmatic public policy options for addressing global climate change.
Institute for Policy Integrity (NYU Law School)
Partners with non-governmental advocacy organizations to facilitate effective participation in the regulatory process, advocate for reform before courts, legislatures, and executive agencies, and contribute original scholarly research.
International Environmental Agreements (IEA) Database Project
National Sea Grant Law Center
Provides legal scholarship and outreach related to coastal and ocean law issues.
Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)
Non-profit environmental action organization originally founded by law students and attorneys.
Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation
A collaborative educational non-profit organization dedicated to the scholarly and practical study of the law and regulations relating to mining, oil and gas, water, public lands, land use, conservation, environmental protection, and other related areas.
State AG Environmental Action Database
A database of environmental actions undertaken by state attorneys general as they seek to advance environmental law and policy objectives within their jurisdictions, from the Sabin Center at Columbia Law and StateAG.org,
State Bar of Texas Environmental & Natural Resources Section (ENRLS)
A section of the state bar comprised of lawyers who practice or have an interest in environmental and natural resources law.
Texas Alliance of Groundwater Districts
Represents 82 local groundwater conservation districts in Texas and nearly two-dozen groundwater-related consulting firms, law firms, and other businesses.
Texas Center for Policy Studies
Founded in 1982, TCPS brings together the people and the information necessary to ensure that growth and development in our region enhances, rather than diminishes, quality of life.
Texas Clean Energy Coalition
TCEC supports a clean energy economy in Texas based on affordable and reliable clean technologies including energy efficiency, renewable energy and the broader use of natural gas.
Texas Public Policy Foundation: Center for Energy & Environment
The Texas Public Policy Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit, non-partisan research institute. The Foundation's mission is to promote and defend liberty, personal responsibility, and free enterprise in Texas and the nation by educating and affecting policymakers and the Texas public policy debate with academically sound research and outreach.
Texas State University's The Meadows Center for Water & the Environment
Texas Tech Center for Water Law and Policy
Focused on legal, regulatory, institutional and policy aspects of local to global water use.
Texas Water Development Board
Texas state agency.
U.S. Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution
An independent and impartial federal program, has a mission and history of helping people find workable solutions to U.S. environmental conflicts.
UNC Environmental Finance Center
Works to enhance the ability of governments and other organizations to provide environmental programs and services in fair, effective and financially sustainable ways.
Water Environment Association of Texas (WEAT): Legislative Affairs
This division actively tracks state legislation.
Western States Water Council
Organization consisting of representatives appointed by the governors of 18 western states.

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Environmental Law & Litigation

Introduction

Related Resources at UT

Navigating Tarlton's Collection

Additional Research Guides & Bibliographies

Related Organizations & Resources