This 2009 book examines the theory, law, and reality of preemption choice.

Part I. Federalism Theory, History, and Pre-emption Variables: 1. Preemption and theories of federalism Robert Verchick and Nina Mendelson; 2. From dualism to polyphony Robert A. Schapiro; 3. Preemption and regulatory failure risks David C. Vladeck; Part II. The Layered Government Norm: 4. The State Attorney General and preemption Trevor W. Morrison; 5. Federal floors, ceilings, and the benefits of federalism's institutional diversity William W. Buzbee; Part III. Judicial Treatment and Interpretative Choice: 6. Supreme Court preemption doctrine Chris Schroeder; 7. When Congress goes unheard: savings clauses' rocky judicial reception Sandy Zellmer; 8. Federal pre-emption by inaction Robert L. Glicksman; 9. Process-based preemption Bradford R. Clark; 10. Preemption by federal agency action William Funk; Part IV. Preemption Tales from the Field: 11. The regulation-common law feedback loop in non-preemptive regimes Thomas O. McGarity; 12. Delegated federalism versus devolution: some insights from the history of the water pollution control William L. Andreen; 13. Adaptive environmental federalism David E. Adelman and Kirsten H. Engel; Conclusion: the menu of preemption choice variables William W. Buzbee.