An Environmental Law Archive
Files donated by a prominent environmental lawyer become part of the school’s research collection

White Plains, April 13, 2004 — The Pace Law School Library today opened the David Sive Manuscript Collection, an Environmental Law Archive. It contains the most significant litigation files of the pioneer environmental attorney David Sive, who litigated such landmark environmental cases as Scenic Hudson, and Citizen’s Committee for the Hudson Valley v. Volpe.

Partly through the activities of Sive, Pace Law School was one of the first law schools in the country to develop a curriculum in environmental law and has consistently achieved one of the nation’s highest rankings in this field. This year, U.S. News & World Report once again ranked the program number three in the nation. The law school offers over twenty-five environmental courses and houses an Environmental Litigation Clinic, an Energy Project that focuses on developing sustainable energy programs, and a Land Use Law Center.

Sive, a founding partner in the law firm of Sive, Paget & Riesel in New York City, has lectured on and taught environmental law at several law schools including Pace As a result of his pioneering work for the environment many consider Mr. Sive to be the "father" of modern environmental law. Mr. Sive is the author of numerous articles on environmental law, has contributed chapters to many books on the subject and is active in several environmental advocacy organizations.

Scenic Hudson Preservation Conference v. Federal Power Commission (453 F.2d 463) (2d Cir. 1971) was the first legal test of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and confirmed the right of citizens to bring environmental actions. This litigation was ultimately responsible for stopping a Con Ed plan to build a hydroelectric plant on Storm King Mountain. The plant would have marred one of the most scenic vistas on the Hudson River.

Citizen’s Committee v. Volpe (425 F.2d 97) (2d Cir. 1970) provided an early test of the standing of citizen groups to bring actions to protect environmental interests and was instrumental in preventing the construction of an interstate highway along the shores of the Hudson.

Other litigation files range in time from the late 1960s to the mid 1980s and represent the importance of the use of the courts to give voice to citizen environmental concerns. They include: Bergen County v. Dole; Concerned About Trident v. Schlesinger; Hogan v. West Milford; Mohonk Trust, Commission for Nuclear Safety v. Seaborg; Town of New Windsor v. Ronan; Lake Minnewaska Condemnation; Catskill Center v. Hardenburgh; Beauford Jasper v. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; Dobbs v. Vornado; Adams v. Edgewood Lakes; Webster Association v. Town of Webster; and Fork v. New York Department of Conservation

The Pace Law Library Sive Manuscript Collection Archive is open by appointment to students and scholars. To make an appointment, contact Gail Whittemore at (914) 422-4357.

This archive was made possible with the help of a grant from the New York State Archives and Records Administration.

Founded in 1976, Pace Law School is a New York Law School with a suburban campus in White Plains, N.Y., 20 miles north of New York City. Part of Pace University, the school offers the J.D. program for full-time and part-time day and evening students. Its postgraduate program includes the LL.M. and S.J.D. degrees in Environmental Law and an LL.M. in Comparative Legal Studies. Pace has one of the nation's top-rated Environmental Law programs and its Clinical Education program also is nationally ranked, offering clinics in domestic violence prosecution, environmental law, securities arbitration, criminal justice and disability rights. www.law.pace.edu 

Pace is a comprehensive, independent university with campuses in New York City, Pleasantville and White Plains, NY and a Hudson Valley Center at Stewart International Airport in New Windsor, NY. More than 14,000 students are enrolled in undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree programs in the Dyson College of Arts and Sciences, Lubin School of Business, School of Computer Science and Information Systems, School of Education, Lienhard School of Nursing and Pace Law School. www.pace.edu