599 Energy and Environmental Law and Policy (Leach)

LAW599

Energy and Environmental Law and Policy

(Leach)

Prerequisite courses: 543 Oil & Gas OR 559 Environmental Law OR permission of instructor

Prerequisite for:

Instructor(s): Andrew Leach

Maximum enrollment: 25?

Method of presentation: Lectures and guest speakers

METHOD OF EVALUATION:

Course assessment will be based on assignments (in-class case briefings and in-class/on-line participation (20%), a paper (60%), and peer review (20%)).

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This is an advanced topics course in energy and environmental law and policy. The course will cover current policy issues with an Alberta focus. Topics will likely include climate change policies (carbon taxes and cap-and-trade) and the right to a healthy environment, environmental and impact assessment legislation, foothills coal mining in Alberta, oil and gas liability management (orphan wells), renewable electricity power purchase agreements, single-use plastics regulation, and renewable fuel content standards. The topics are chosen to highlight relevant areas of constitutional, contract, administrative, and regulatory law as well as federal and provincial government policies. For each topic, readings and lecture content will include both the public policy objectives and legal context. Student-presented case briefings will complement the course material for certain topics. Expert guest speakers will be a regular component of the class.

SPECIAL COMMENTS:

Description updated 2021-22. Please contact the instructor for any specific questions you may have related to this particular course section.

REQUIRED TEXTS (IF ANY):

All readings provided via TWEN.