A somewhat obscure provision (§9) of the 88-page Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of October 18, 1972 [Public Law No. 92-500] requires the president, acting through the Attorney General, to: (1) "[M]ake a full and complete investigation and study of the feasibility of establishing a separate court, or court system, having jurisdiction over environmental matters;" and, (2) Within one year from the date of the Act, "report the results of such investigation and study together with his recommendations to Congress."

Little is known of the thought processes behind this provision. The congressional committee [House Committee on Public Works] responsible for the provision stated only that: