Can Industrial Hemp Save Louisiana? By Karina Shareen[1] Introduction Louisiana is one of the top producers of sugarcane, rice, cotton, corn, and soybeans.[2] As a result, it has suffered two kinds of problems, both of which increasingly threaten Louisiana’s local economy and health. First, Louisiana is experiencing abnormal levels of Read more
Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage: The Newest Conservation Phenomenon September 2, 2015 What Is Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage? Whenever a person drew a breath four hundred years ago, about 280 molecules out of every million that entered his lungs were carbon dioxide.[1] Today, every breath you take contains 400 molecules Read more
Class Action Certification of Environmental Contamination Mass Torts in the Wake of Dukes, Behrend and Amgen April 9, 2014 In Parko v. Shell Oil,[1] the citizens of the Village of Roxana, filed suit against the operators of a nearby refinery, some dating back nearly a century, including Shell Oil Company and Conoco Read more
The Problem of Reprocessing Spent Fuel: If Laws Cannot Solve the Problem, is Technology the Answer? March 12, 2014 I. Introduction Shippingport Atomic Power Station was the first large-scale civilian atomic power plant to open in the United States. It began generating electricity for commercial use on December 18, 1957, Read more
Spoliation on the High Seas: Call for Uniform Treatment in Spoliation of Evidence Claims March 26, 2014 The BP oil spill is the gift that keeps on giving.[1] Since the blowout on the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig in 2010—nearly five years ago—there are legal proceedings stemming from the incident that are Read more
BP’s Fight to Stop the Payment of ‘Fictitious’ Claims February 26, 2014 The blowout of BP’s Macondo well in April 2010 signaled the start of what became the industry’s largest ever accidental release of oil.[1] The failure of the well’s Blowout Preventer and the lack of an effective containment plan exacerbated Read more
Revisiting the Definition of a Solar Collector under La. R.S. §9:1255 in Light of New “Green” Practices February 12, 2014 The consumption of electricity is one of the largest contributors to our carbon footprint, and thus the Earth’s ever-changing climate.[1] Renewable energy sources have been touted as a means of reducing Read more
The Third Circuit and Clovelly Oil Co. LLC v. Midstates Petroleum: A Dangerous Decision on Joint Operating Agreements January 29, 2014 In 1956, the American Association of Petroleum Landmen adopted the Model Form Operating Agreement for joint lease operations in order to decrease litigation.[1] However, in 2012, the Louisiana Third Read more
Rebuilding Green for All: Climate Change Adaptation and Green Affordable Redevelopment Post-Disaster November 20, 2013 Sean Wright, B.A. from Miami University; M.A. from Ohio State University, John Glenn School of Public Affairs; J.D. from Ohio State University Mortiz College of Law. Sean is currently a Judicial Clerk for Judge Beryl A. Howell, Read more
Coalition for Responsible Regulation v. EPA: Correct Ruling, Incorrect Legislation September 25, 2013 Jeneba H. Barrie, J.D./C.L. 2014, Paul M. Hebert Law Center, Louisiana State University I. Introduction Global warming and climate change are well-documented and both are suspected to coincide with the increasing “concentration of carbon dioxide in the Read more