[2] However, New York University School of Law Dean John Sexton noted that the roots of the journal could be traced back as far as 1986, when members of the Environmental Law Society began publishing the ELS Newsletter.

[3] In the inaugural issue, the founding editors wrote that they hoped the journal would serve as "one vehicle in the broad quest to promote environmental protection.

[1] The journal publishes scholarship relating to the "links between environmental and land use policy as well as administrative, corporate, constitutional, criminal, energy, insurance, international, property, tax, and tort law.

[6] Articles published in the journal have been cited by the First,[7] Third,[8] Ninth,[9] and District of Columbia Circuit Courts of Appeals.

[15] Tables of contents are also available through Infotrieve and Ingenta,[14] and the journal posts past issues on its website.