The intersection of two events assured that 2017 would be an important year for the development of environmental policy. At the state level, Gov. Christie’s tenure, defined by what many believed to be a lukewarm commitment to environmental protection, was rapidly drawing to a close. At the federal level, the nascent Trump administration confirmed its intention to scuttle key elements of the national environmental program.
As these events were unfolding, the statutory, regulatory and judicial processes continued to grind away. This article identifies 2017′s top 10 state environmental issues, many of which will continue to have a long shelf life.
