I need a lawyer. Can the Environment and Natural Resources Division represent me?
The Department of Justice is part of the Executive Branch of the
Government and is charged with representing the United States, its
agencies and personnel of the Executive Branch in legal matters.
The Department is prevented, by law, from offering legal advice
to private citizens. However, your local chapter of
the Bar Association or Legal Aid Society may be able to assist you
in locating a lawyer. Many bar associations can also provide references
for free legal assistance.
Someone has been polluting in my neighborhood. Who can investigate this for me?
You have many choices. The most efficient route is generally to
contact the Environmental Protection
Agency office for your region which
may be able to investigate directly. ENRD does not typically investigate
alleged violations of federal environmental laws until a federal
agency, like the Environmental Protection Agency, refers a matter
to it.
If you suspect that a violation of a pollution-control law is occurring
and presents an emergency situation, you may contact the Environmental
Enforcement Section (one of the sections within ENRD). You may also
wish to contact your local fire or health department.
If you have direct evidence of criminal activity, you should contact
your local United States Attorneys
Office, or the Environmental Crimes
Section of ENRD.
You may also wish to contact your State Attorney General's office.
I suspect that a federal wildlife or marine law has been broken. What should I do?
If you suspect that a violation of a wildlife law is occurring,
you should contact the Fish and Wildlife
Service office for your region. The National Marine
Fisheries Service office for your region should
be contacted regarding marine violations. You may also wish to contact
your State Attorney General or your State fish and game
department.
My neighbor has been filling wetlands, and I think he's breaking the law.
Who should I contact?
If you suspect that a wetlands violation has occurred, you should
contact the United States Army Corps of Engineers district for your region and the Environmental Protection
Agency office for your region.
I think a state law has been violated. What should I do?
You may wish to contact your State Attorney General's
office in this situation.
How can I access information on ENRD cases?
- Some complaints and consent decrees for ENRD cases are located through legal topics.
- Some filings may also be available from the relevant court.
- You can also file a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. See our FOIA page for more information.
- ENRD press releases.
What is the relationship between the Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorneys Offices?
The United States Attorneys are a part of the Department of Justice.
They have offices throughout the United States, and serve as the
principal litigators for the United States on a variety of issues.
Each United States Attorney is the chief federal law enforcement
officer of the United States within his or her particular state
or part of a state. The Executive Office for United
States Attorneys has headquarters
in the main Department of Justice building in Washington, D.C.
How do I file a Freedom of Information Act or Privacy Act request?
Submit a detailed written request to the ENRD FOIA contact. Procedural details are
available from the Department of Justice FOIA page.
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How can I be considered for an attorney position with the Environment and Natural Resources Division?
Attorneys interested in applying for positions with ENRD can do
so in one of the following ways: (1) Check the listing of
attorney positions in ENRD
periodically for listings
of attorney vacancies. (2) Experienced attorneys may submit a resume
and cover letter to: Personnel Officer, P.O. Box 7754, Washington,
DC 20044-7754. (3) Graduating law students may be considered through
the annual Honor Law Graduate Program (deadline in September). Interested
students may check the Department's Web site for eligibility requirements
and deadline dates. Application forms are also available in all
accredited law school placement offices each year in August.
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Are there non-attorney positions available with the Environment and Natural Resources Division?
Yes, there are many positions within ENRD for non-attorneys. Check
out the Department's Employment Site for details on available
positions and application procedures.
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I am concerned about how the environment is affecting my child's health. Where can I get more information?
The Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Children's
Health Protection is a good resource,
as is the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences' Kids' Page. For information on lead
hazards, consult the Office of Lead Hazard
Control, a branch of the Department
of Housing and Urban Development.