Vermont Law School, a private, independent institution, has the top-ranked environmental law program and one of the top-ranked clinical training programs in the nation, according to U.S.News & World Report. VLS offers a Juris Doctor curriculum that emphasizes public service, a Master of Environmental Law and Policy degree and two post-JD degrees, the Master of Laws in Environmental Law and the LLM in American Legal Studies (for foreign-trained lawyers). The school features innovative experiential programs and is home to the Environmental Law Centerand the South Royalton Legal Clinic. For more information, visit www.vermontlaw.edu(link is external). With Republicans Attacking the EPA, 2012 Could Be a Turning Point for Environmental RegulationBy Professor John Echeverria and Student Sara ImperialeSUMMARYHouse Republicans and Republican presidential candidates have launched unprecedented attacks on the Environmental Protection Agency, saying environmental regulations are hurting the economy.Among the other things causing Richard Nixon to turn over in his grave may be Republican attacks on the Environmental Protection Agency, which the former president and Congress established in a bipartisan response to public demand for cleaner water, air, and land. Since Republicans regained control of the House of Representatives in the 2010 midterm elections, they have introduced an unprecedented number of measures designed to weaken longstanding environmental protections and block the EPA from putting forth new regulations. Moreâ ¦ With Republicans Attacking the EPA, 2012 Could Be a Turning Point for Environmental Regulation EPA and White House Clash Over Ozone Standards Powder River Basin’s Abundance of Coal at the Epicenter of Energy Development Activists Claim Victory, Temporarily, on Disputed Keystone XL Pipeline EPA, Transportation Department Step Up Sector-by-Sector Regulation of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Federal Appeals Court Settles Roadless Ruleâ ¦for Now Fukushima Fallout Affects Global Energy Security, Cost, Safety, Grid Reliability U.S. Supreme Court Rejects Bid to Regulate Greenhouse Gases Under Federal Common Law Landmark Settlement Under the Endangered Species Act Combating Climate Change Through Enforcement: EPA v. TVA Vermont Law School,Vermont Law School today released its second annual Top 10 Environmental Watch List today, spotlighting the nation’s most critical environmental law and policy issues of 2011 and how they may play out in 2012.The Watch List (see below) is available at http://watchlist.vermontlaw.edu/(link is external)This year’s report contains 10 essays, plus a Special Mention essay and three additional issues to watch in 2012. The issues were chosen based on their significance to the environment and public well being and whether a key development is expected in the coming year. ‘This year’s Watch List is especially important given the continuing fallout from theFukushima nuclear disaster in Japan,’ Dean Jeff Shields said. ‘We also saw unprecedented attacks on the EPA as well as the Obama administration’s mixed messages on environmental issues, which have been confusing to the public, conservationists and industry alike. Our Watch List helps to clarify these issues and others that are so critical in the coming election year.’