Great Lakes Law

Michigan’s first sanctioned wolf hunt opens this month surrounded by controversy

The following student post is by Nicholas McIntyre (B.A., Oakland University; J.D., Wayne State University Law School, expected 2014). While in law school, Nick has interned at the U.S. Justice Department (Community Relations Service) and the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. Over the past 30 years, Michigan’s wolf population has recovered dramatically, from three known wolves in 1989 to a current population of 658. See Rationale and Basis of Natural Resources... Read more →

Federal court rejects National Wildlife Federation’s challenge to EPA Vessel General Permit regulating ballast water discharges

In 2012, the US EPA proposed a Vessel General Permit to regulate ballast water discharges pursuant to the Clean Water Act. Ballast water from other regions is a significant source of invasive species in the Great Lakes. Numerous environmental organizations commented on the permit proposal, generally criticizing it for using too weak a standard, exempting a large category of vessels, and not requiring compliance for several years (see this prior post). After the EPA finalized... Read more →

Wisconsin Supreme Court Limits Scope of Public Trust Doctrine

The following student post is by Kyle M. Peczynski (B.A., University of Michigan; J.D., Wayne State University Law School, expected 2014). While in law school, Kyle has worked at the US EPA and Wayne Law’s Transnational Environmental Law Clinic. The Wisconsin Supreme Court in July limited the scope of the state’s public trust doctrine when it rejected the state Department of Natural Resources’ reasoning used in support of a water level regulation for Lake Koshkonong.... Read more →