United States Department of Justice Environment and Natural Resources Division
Encyclopedia
The U.S. Department of Justice
Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) is one of seven litigating components of the United States Department of Justice
. ENRD’s mandate is to enforce civil and criminal environmental law
s and programs protecting the health and environment of the United States, and to defend suits challenging those laws and programs.
abatement laws and obtain compliance with environmental protection and conservation statutes. ENRD also represents the United States in all matters concerning protection, use, and development of the nation’s natural resources
and public lands. The Division defends suits challenging all of the foregoing laws, and fulfills the federal government’s responsibility to litigate on behalf of Native American tribes and individual Native Americans
. The Division is also responsible for the acquisition of real property
by eminent domain
for the federal government
, and brings and defends cases under wildlife protection laws. ENRD’s legal successes have reduced harmful discharges into the air, water, and land, enabled clean-up of contaminated waste sites, and ensured proper disposal of solid and hazardous waste.
. The current AAG-ENR is Ignacia S. Moreno
, who was appointed by President Barack Obama
in November, 2009.
Ignacia S. Moreno
. The Assistant Attorney General is assisted by four Deputy Assistant Attorney Generals, who each oversee a different branch of the Division's sections. The Division divides itself into several sections, each of which has its own unique areas of expertise. A Section Chief heads each section, assisted by one or more Deputy or Assistant Section Chiefs.
United States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) is one of seven litigating components of the United States Department of Justice
United States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
. ENRD’s mandate is to enforce civil and criminal environmental law
Environmental law
Environmental law is a complex and interlocking body of treaties, conventions, statutes, regulations, and common law that operates to regulate the interaction of humanity and the natural environment, toward the purpose of reducing the impacts of human activity...
s and programs protecting the health and environment of the United States, and to defend suits challenging those laws and programs.
Jurisdiction
The Division initiates and pursues legal action to enforce federal pollutionPollution
Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into a natural environment that causes instability, disorder, harm or discomfort to the ecosystem i.e. physical systems or living organisms. Pollution can take the form of chemical substances or energy, such as noise, heat or light...
abatement laws and obtain compliance with environmental protection and conservation statutes. ENRD also represents the United States in all matters concerning protection, use, and development of the nation’s natural resources
Natural Resources
Natural Resources is a soul album released by Motown girl group Martha Reeves and the Vandellas in 1970 on the Gordy label. The album is significant for the Vietnam War ballad "I Should Be Proud" and the slow jam, "Love Guess Who"...
and public lands. The Division defends suits challenging all of the foregoing laws, and fulfills the federal government’s responsibility to litigate on behalf of Native American tribes and individual Native Americans
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
. The Division is also responsible for the acquisition of real property
Real property
In English Common Law, real property, real estate, realty, or immovable property is any subset of land that has been legally defined and the improvements to it made by human efforts: any buildings, machinery, wells, dams, ponds, mines, canals, roads, various property rights, and so forth...
by eminent domain
Eminent domain
Eminent domain , compulsory purchase , resumption/compulsory acquisition , or expropriation is an action of the state to seize a citizen's private property, expropriate property, or seize a citizen's rights in property with due monetary compensation, but without the owner's consent...
for the federal government
Federal government of the United States
The federal government of the United States is the national government of the constitutional republic of fifty states that is the United States of America. The federal government comprises three distinct branches of government: a legislative, an executive and a judiciary. These branches and...
, and brings and defends cases under wildlife protection laws. ENRD’s legal successes have reduced harmful discharges into the air, water, and land, enabled clean-up of contaminated waste sites, and ensured proper disposal of solid and hazardous waste.
Leadership
The head of the Environment and Natural Resources Division is an Assistant Attorney General for the Environment and Natural Resources (AAG-ENR) appointed by the President of the United StatesPresident of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
. The current AAG-ENR is Ignacia S. Moreno
Ignacia S. Moreno
Ignacia Soledad Moreno is an American lawyer who is the Assistant Attorney General for the United States Department of Justice Environment and Natural Resources Division.- Early life and education :...
, who was appointed by President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
in November, 2009.
Organization
The Environment and Natural Resources Division is overseen by Assistant Attorney GeneralUnited States Assistant Attorney General
Many of the divisions and offices of the United States Department of Justice are headed by an Assistant Attorney General.The President of the United States appoints individuals to the position of Assistant Attorney General with the advice and consent of the Senate...
Ignacia S. Moreno
Ignacia S. Moreno
Ignacia Soledad Moreno is an American lawyer who is the Assistant Attorney General for the United States Department of Justice Environment and Natural Resources Division.- Early life and education :...
. The Assistant Attorney General is assisted by four Deputy Assistant Attorney Generals, who each oversee a different branch of the Division's sections. The Division divides itself into several sections, each of which has its own unique areas of expertise. A Section Chief heads each section, assisted by one or more Deputy or Assistant Section Chiefs.
- Assistant Attorney General - Environment and Natural Resources Division
- Deputy Assistant Attorney General - Natural Resources and Wildlife Branch
- Natural Resources Section
- Wildlife and Marine Resources Section
- Deputy Assistant Attorney General - Appellate and Indian Affairs Branch
- Appellate Section
- Indian Resources Section
- Deputy Assistant Attorney General - Civil Environmenal Law Branch
- Environmental Defense Section
- Environmental Enforcement Section
- Deputy Assistant Attorney General - Environmental Protection Branch
- Environmental Crimes Section
- Land Acquisition Section
- Executive Office
- Law and Policy Section
- Deputy Assistant Attorney General - Natural Resources and Wildlife Branch