From the Editor...

• Pages: 4-4
• Date: 01 March 2026
• Published date: 01 March 2026
• Author: Jay Austin
• Subject Matter: Administrative & Public Law

56 ELR 10088 ENVIRONMENTAL LAW REPORTER MAR/APR 2026

From the Editor . . .

One of ELR’s enduring features is our Dialogue section, typically (but not always) chosen from the busy slate of

ELI events. These on-the-record conversations among policymakers, academics, and advocates often make news

as they happen. But they have a surprisingly long shelf life, gaining readers who couldn’t attend, as well as cita-

tions from scholars who are looking to reference contemporary, expert statements on key topics.

This issue’s Dialogue is special, based on the Firestone Policy Forum that focused this time on cooperative fed-

eralism. It features four current and former heads of state environmental protection agencies, ranging from tiny

Vermont to the urban and rural expanses of Illinois. While the problems and resources in these states vary greatly,

each speaker shared insights on the evolving federal-state relationship and potential responses.

Federalism has been baked into environmental law from the beginning, with eras where either the federal or

state governments have been more prominent. But rather than just another pendulum swing, recent actions resem-

ble a two-pronged assault: both abdication of federal responsibilities and an overt attempt to prevent states from

f‌illing the vacuum. Combining (for example) the endangerment f‌inding recission, congressional malpractice, and

defunding and lawsuits directed at state climate policies is a suref‌ire formula for continued harm.

Still, these four pragmatic leaders managed to convey a sense of optimism, of working from the ground up to

protect the environment and citizens’ health. Their examples should have something to offer colleagues across

states of all sizes and temperaments. While invoking the “laboratories of democracy” has become something of

a cliché, they may also be the best path forward in the present moment—if only they are allowed to experiment.

— Jay Austin, Editor-in-Chief

ELR Staff

Publisher: Jordan Diamond

Editor-in-Chief: Jay Austin

Managing Editor: Rachel Jean-Baptiste

Senior Editor: Hunter Leigh Jones

Editorial Coordinator: William J. Straub

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