Legislation is introduced by members of the House or Senate. Each proposed new law is called a bill or joint resolution. Bills are numbered sequentially (for example the first House bill will be numbered H.R. 1 and the first Senate bill will be S.R. 1). Bills are assigned to committees in each house. After a bill passes the house in which it was introduced, it is sent to the other house for consideration. If a bill is approved by both houses, it is sent to the President to be signed. If the President signs the bill, it becomes law. If the President vetoes the bill, a two thirds vote in both houses will override the veto. Bills introduced but not passed in a Congress do not carry over to the next session.
The Congressional Research Service of the Library of Congress compiles various reports for Congress. There are multiple reports related to Environmental Law. A particularly helpful report is Environmental Laws: Summaries of Major Statutes Administered by Environmental Protection Agency, October 8, 2010.
The Clean Air Act (CAA) 42 U.S.C. § 7401
https://www.epa.gov/clean-air-act-overview/clean-air-act-text
The Clean Water Act (CWA) - 42 U.S.C. § 7401-7671, 33 U.S.C. § 1251-1387
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2011-title33/pdf/USCODE-2011-title33-chap26.pdf
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) - 42, U.S.C. § 4321-4347
https://www.fsa.usda.gov/Internet/FSA_File/nepa_statute.pdf
The Ocean Dumping Act -33 U.S.C. 1401-1445, 16 U.S.C. § 1447-1447f
https://www.govregs.com/uscode/expand/title16_chapter32A_section1447a
The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) - 42 U.S.C. § 300(f)-300(j)
https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?path=/prelim@title42/chapter6A/subchapter12&edition=prelim
The Pollution Prevention Act (PPA) - 42 U.S.C. § 13101-13109
The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) - 15 U.S.C. § 2601-2695d
https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?path=/prelim@title15/chapter53&edition=prelim
Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council, 467 US 837 (1984)
Tennesee Valley Authority v. Hill, 437 US 153 (1978)
Massachusetts v. EPA, 549 US 497 (2007)
Sierra Club v. Morton, 405 US 727 (1972)
Ethyl Corp. v. EPA, 306 F.3d 1144 (2002)
Citizens to Preserve Overton Park v. Volpe, 401 U.S. 402 (1971)
Rapanos v. United States, 547 U.S. 715 (2006)
Calvert Cliffs v. U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, 449 F.2d 1109 (1971)
National Audubon Society v. Department of Water, 858 F.2d 1409 (1988)
Federal Regulatory Process
Federal regulations are authorized by legislation enacted by Congress. Some landmark legislation, such as the Clean Air Act and the Civil Rights Act, require execution via federal regulations. Agencies are often referred to as "regulatory" agencies, because they are empowered to create and enforce rules/regulations that execute the laws. Individuals and other entities can be fined, sanctioned, and criminally prosecuted for violating federal regulations.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Bureau of Land Management or the Forest Service
https://www.blm.gov/programs/natural-resources/forests-and-woodlands
National Oceanic and Atmosphere administration
Fish and Wildlife services of the department of the interior
National Marine Fisheries Service of the Department of Commerce
