Current and former Environmental Clinic students take a look at new and developing topics in Environmental Law.
Please note: The content published here reflects the views of the individual authors only. They do not represent the views of the Environmental Clinic, The University of Texas School of Law, or The University of Texas at Austin.
- Speed, Safety, and Transparency in Nuclear Regulation Reform
Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/low-angle-photo-of-nuclear-power-plant-buildings-emtting-smoke-3044470/ By Jackson Henry, S26 Environmental Clinic student U.S. electricity demand is surging, and is projected to grow by as much as 80% by 2050. Nuclear energy offers a proven solution to provide firm, carbon-free, and sustainable electricity to meet this increasing demand. But until recently, nuclear regulation has… read more - Warbling Still: The Golden-Cheeked Warbler Thirty Years Later and the Possibility of Delisting
Credit: John Cahill By Dan Covert, S26 Environmental Clinic student The golden-cheeked warbler (Setophagia chrysoparia) is the only bird species to have breeding habitat exclusively in Texas. It has been listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) since 1990, when the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) found… read more - The Power of Public Participation in the Permitting Process
Source: DESALINATION: Environmental groups protest Corpus Christi facility | KRIS 6 News By Taylor Cox, S26 Environmental Clinic student Public participation is central to many federal and state environmental permitting processes. In Texas, for example, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) provides opportunities for public notice and comment on… read more - Safe drinking water; the tension between public and individual health
By Camille Powell, S26 Environmental Clinic student The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is revisiting standards for fluoride in drinking water—a step that, if handled responsibly, could be a win for public health. But tumult surrounding fluoride has already had potentially dangerous consequences: a wave of state and local bans… read more - What the Abundance movement actually means
By Brady Miller, S26 Environmental Clinic student Since its release in March 2025, much has been made of the book Abundance by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson. Its core thesis, rather simple, is that to create the future we want—one that, for example, has enough quality affordable housing, adequate public… read more - “Forever Chemicals” and the Litigation Surrounding Them
By Salahudeen Robinson, S26 Environmental Clinic Student In environmental law practice, litigation can often start with a test result and finish with two questions: what does this mean for environmental or human health, and who (if anyone) can be held responsible? PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are thousands of synthetic… read more - Environmentalism for Whom? How Racial and Economic Inequality Has Shaped U.S. Environmental Law and Policy
Source: How everyday people started a movement that’s shaping climate action to this day | NPR By Shruti Machiraju, Environmental Clinic Student S26 From its earliest days, the U.S. environmental movement has largely been shaped by leaders from relatively privileged backgrounds. Consequently, environmental law and policy became heavily influenced by… read more - In-Stream Flow Rights in Colorado
A picture I took hiking this past 1L summer when I was working in Colorado. This is the Dillon Reservoir near Dillon, Frisco, and Silverthorne ,CO. It is a freshwater reservoir for the city of Denver under the control of Denver Water. By Helen McLachlan, S26 Environmental Clinic Student An… read more