This almanac provides an overview of environmental law, presented in an accessible fashion for those who may be encountering this complex area of law for the first time. The book addresses the major environmental regulatory statutes relating to air and water quality, hazardous materials and wastes, pesticides and other toxic substances, wetlands preservation, and endangered species. It also covers the common law principles from which modern environmental law directly descends. Readers will gain an understanding of issues such as the environmental restrictions on private property development and the increasing importance of global climate change, as well as how to access environmental information through community right-to-know laws and other environmental statutes.