Student Programs

Natural Resource Users Law & Policy Center

Natural Resource Use & Management Clinic

The Natural Resource Use and Management Clinic in the College of Law is affiliated with the NRULPC. This public interest clinic provides educational and research opportunities in real-world situations for law and College of Agriculture and Life Sciences students. It handles matters pertaining to water, endangered species, public lands, climate change, tribal lands and resources, and the myriad of natural resource challenges that exist in Arizona and the American West. In doing so, the clinic aims to forge collaborative solutions to sustainable natural resource use that considers impacts to rural communities, economies and ecosystems. Moreover, the clinic supports the university, as a land grant institution, in its mission to bring applied research and education to the greater public.

For more information concerning the Clinic, including the application process for potential clients, please visit the Clinic webpage at https://law.arizona.edu/natural-resource-use-management-clinic.

Student Matters and Reports:

Water Law 201 Webinar Nov. 9, 2021 - Introduce landowners to issues related to the AZ water rights adjudication
- Arizona Water Law 101 Flyer
A Look at the Past, Present, and Future for the Endangered Mexican Gray Wolf
Tribal Development: A Look at Current Legislative Efforts in the Mineral & Energy Sectors
Public Education on Stream Adjudication
Federal Appeals Handbook (reviewed and updated by students)
NEPA for Ranchers Handbook (reviewed and updated by students)
Comments from Law Students to DEIS on Resolution Copper Mine (November 2019)
Student comment on CEQ rulemaking to revise NEPA regulations
Student comment to BLM/BIA on Chaco Canyon-area Draft EIS
Provided written memoranda for respective clients on state requirements to permit alternative beaver dams for watershed restoration.
Researched existing rules and options for forestry research and management on state trust lands.
Conducted analysis of the comments submitted by Arizona stakeholders on the proposed federal rule on Water of the United States (WOTUS).
Researched liability of feedlot operations stemming from agricultural contamination.
Researched and interpreted the Clean Water Act’s mitigation bank rules for stakeholder access and understanding.
Inventoried Arizona statutes and codes for references to the Clean Water Act and gaps resulting from the new WOTUS rule.
Planned a robust tribal consultation process for engagement in the statewide water rights adjudication in Arizona.
Conducted analysis of the Arizona constitution and caselaw to understand the authority of the Arizona Corporation Commission.
Reviewed legal arguments around the definition of subflow to delineate groundwater and surface water in Arizona for stakeholders (forthcoming).
Contribute posts for the Western Lands Blog.

Academic Program/Courses

ACBS/LAW 411 (3 units): The Agriculture, Environmental and Legal Issues course hosts guest speaker experts from the agricultural industry, legal sector, and academia. Students are introduced to fundamental concepts associated with modern day agricultural industries to help them understand legal concepts as well as public policy that affects the commodities markets, natural resources in their "raw form", consumer attitudes, and market forces that affect various agribusiness industries of the west. The main substantive rules of law and their application include: 1) Animal welfare, law, and policy; 2) Food safety regulations and organic food standards; 3) Environmental law and policy; 4) Water law and policy and 5) Basics of Tribal Law. This course, which is shared between CALS’ School of Animal & Comparative Biomedical Sciences and the Rogers College of Law, is taught by Mr. Joe Willis, Esq. and Anne Gondor. Mr. Willis is Co- Chair of the NRULPC Advisory Board and is an attorney with Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt. He specializes in natural resources, real estate and construction law with more than 45 years of experience. Ms. Gondor, Research Specialist, holds a master’s degree in Natural Resources from Oregon State University with an emphasis in Water Conflict Management and Transformation. Previously, Anne worked 18 years with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) as a Conservation Planner.

The University of Arizona James E. Roger's College of Law's Master of Legal Studies (MLS) online degree introduces lawyers and mining professionals to the range of legal issues that arise in the acquisition of mineral properties and related financing as well as environmental considerations faced by the modern mining industry. Several classes may have strong interest for natural resource students in both the Colleges of Law and Agriculture & Life Sciences. For instance:

LAW 554 (3 units) Environmental Law, taught by Kirsten Engel, Charles E. Ares Professor of Law, is a foundational course in environmental law and regulatory policy. The course emphasizes pollution control law by studying the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. Also covered are the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Endangered Species Act.

LAW 640B (1 unit), Legal Overview for Public Land Users, taught by John C. Lacy, includes guest interviews discussing law and policy issues confronting public land users including grazing rights, forest resources, recreation, fishing rights, and cultural considerations. This course is a supplement to the United States Public Land and Mining Law course also taught by Professor Lacy.
- Course Interview and Discussion Videos
  - Public Land Use (Law 640B, University of Arizona): The Timber Resource
  - Mining Safety Panel
LAW 640P (3 units): Community Engagement and Sustainable Development of Mineral Resources, coordinated by Kristi Disney Bruckner, Luke Danielson and Ashley Smith-Roberts Professors of Practice. Course Introduction Powerpoint Available Fall 2021.
LAW 698Q (2 units), Managing Public Lands under NEPA, coordinated by John C. Lacy with presentations from experienced compliance professionals. This course takes a detailed look at the process of compliance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act.
For a full list of online mining law courses see: James E. Rogers College of Law, The University of Arizona Global Mining Law Center; On-line Courses (January, 2021)

Our Students Highlighted

Cora Varas-Nelson, Master of Legal Studies Grad Looks to Improve Environmental Policy by Bridging Science and the Law, James E. Rogers College of Law, May 19, 2021
University of Arizona water and law students, Arizona is ready to deal with a water shortage … except for on thing, Arizona Republic, May 4, 2021