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United States Department of Justice, Environment and Natural Resources Division

The Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) is a litigating component of the United States Department of Justice. ENRD’s mandate is to enforce civil and criminal environmental laws and programs protecting the health and environment of the United States, and to defend suits challenging those laws and programs.

The Division initiates and pursues legal action to enforce federal pollution 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 protect the federal fisc, reduce harmful discharges into the air, water, and land, enable clean-up of contaminated waste sites, and ensure proper disposal of solid and hazardous waste. The Environment and Natural Resources Division is overseen by an Assistant Attorney General.

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