Greetings from the Steering Committee
We encourage each member to assist in identifying opportunities, organizing programs and events and, of course, attending programs and events.
The newsletter provides committee updates, reports on recent Section activities, an upcoming events schedule, and committee chair and steering committee rosters. To find out more about the Section and our various committees - or even better, to get involved in organizing programs or serving in Section leadership - please visit the EENR website.
Please consider joining one or more of our various topical committees by contacting the committee chairs directly. We look forward to seeing you at upcoming Section activities.
Sheila Jones, EENR Section Chair (06/07)
Back to Top
Announcements
Author, Author
Please let us know if you have recently published an article, book, etc. that you’d like to share with other EENR
members. To post an announcement, pleasesend an email including the author(s), title, publisher and a brief synopsis to Felicia Lopez, EENR intern. Authors must be members of the EENR Section. If the publication is available on the Internet, we can embed an active link in the announcement. However, please note that the Section cannot print or attach any publications to our newsletter.
Call for Programs!
The EENR continues to solicit its members for ideas for new topical programs, events and activities. What would you like to see covered? What activities would you like to see the Section sponsor or be involved in?
If you would like to organize a program or event, please contact the appropriate Committee Chair(s) or the Section’s immediate past Chair, Sheila Jones.
Back to TopEENR Contributes to Kids Set Sail
Under the guidance of the section steering committee, EENR made a $1000 donation to Kids Set Sail in support of their popular summer program for disadvantaged D.C. youth.
Kids Set Sail (KSS) is a program run by the National Maritime
Heritage Foundation (NMHF), an organization founded in April 2000 by
business and community leaders who recognized the need in the Washington
area for a maritime heritage program to serve as a focus for education
and community development. KSS is a 5-day summer experiential program
developed for grade school children ages 8–14.
Disadvantaged and inner city youth are the program’s primary focus, with the goal of introducing the children to sports and the outdoors, raising environmental awareness, and building team spirit, as well as personal confidence through sailing instruction.
The program spans 4 years, encouraging repeat attendance and keeping the kids connected to the program with the hope of transitioning them to other programs such as Earth Conservation Corps or AmeriCorps as they mature. Like summer camp, KSS is also developing older kids to have them return as Counselors in Training, who would also act as mentors and role models for younger participants.
As of 2006, nearly 4000 kids had participated in KSS, 67% of whom had never been on the Anacostia River despite the fact that most lived in Wards 5 and 8, both within walking distance to the river. This summer 250 children are expected, 73% of which will participate on scholarship. EENR’s contribution will sponsor 4 scholarships this summer.
Please join us in applauding the 2007 participants in Kids Set Sail. We are pleased to lend our support to such an exciting, creative and admirable program.
More information on NMHF and KSS, can be found here.
Back to TopAuthor, Author
Charles Di Leva,
Chief Counsel, ESSD and International Law at The World Bank
Mr. Di Leva has co-authored Forest Law and Sustainable Development: Addressing Contemporary Challenges Through Legal Reform (The World Bank 2007). The book analyzes a wide range of issues implicated in forest-related legislation. The legal framework governing land use and tenure, as well as international obligations related to trade, environmental protection and human rights are discussed. Significant attention is given to institutional arrangements and governance practices relevant to forests, including decentralization, transparency, and law enforcement. The authors draw extensively on experience from around the world illustrating various approaches to dealing with specific forest management challenges.
Mr. Di Leva has also recently contributed to a comprehensive set of climate change articles produced under the auspices of the ABA. The entire compilation of articles was edited by EENR’s Jim Rubin of Hunton & Williams.
Dean Suagee,
Of Counsel, Hobbs Straus Dean & Walker
Mr. Suagee served as lead editor for Winter 2007 issue of the ABA’s Environment, Energy and Resources Section journal NATURAL RESOURCES & ENVIRONMENT. The entire issue was devoted to the theme of “Tribal Government Environmental Programs,” and featured eleven articles, including “The Navajo Nation EPA’s Experience with ‘Treatment as a State’ and Primacy” by section member Jill Elise Grant of the Nordhaus Law Firm, and an interview with Rick West, Director of the National Museum of the American Indian.
Peter Schaumberg and Bill Sinclair have recently published an article entitled “Status Check: Assessing Interior’s Implementation of the Energy Policy Act of 2005.” The article may be found in SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT LAW & POLICY JOURNAL, volume 7, issue 3.
Back to TopCommittee Updates
Animal Law Committee
Ethan Eddy, Chair
Humane Society of the U.S.
The Animal Law Committee provides a forum for learning about one of the fastest growing areas of law. Over 40 law schools now offer classes in animal law, including Georgetown, Vermont, George Washington, Harvard, Yale, Columbia, and Duke, and several law journals are now dedicated to animal law.
Animal law topics of interest include: access rights of people with disabilities and their service animals, animals used for food, animals used in experiments, veterinary malpractice, estate planning for companion animals, custody and visitation, animal control and enforcement, animal sheltering, animal fighting and cruelty, dangerous pets, keeping of exotic animals, animal breeding, and dog and cat overpopulation.
The Animal Law committee recently hosted an evening panel entitled Emerging Issues in Agriculture: Animal Welfare, Environmental, and Food Safety Regulation. See Recent Section Events for more details.
The Committee is currently planning upcoming panels on toxicology testing, animals in entertainment, and wildlife trade and trafficking.
Please contact me, Ethan Eddy if you have questions about the Committee. I welcome your thoughts and ideas, and look forward to meeting you.
Back to TopCommunity Outreach Committee
Anna L. Wolgast, Chair
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
The Community Outreach Committee seeks to provide information about,
as well as facilitate, pro bono efforts addressing environmental issues
that affect the D.C. community. Members of the EENR Section have compiled
A
Citizen’s Guide to Environmental Law highlighting legal
tools available to residents when tackling local environmental problems.
Due to scheduling conflicts, the July 10th Pro Bono Opportunities in Environmental Law Panel has been postponed until the fall. Panelists will include representatives from the Humane Society of the United States, the National Wildlife Refuge Association and the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy. Look for more details in the weeks to come.
If you have suggestions or requests for panelists, please contact Janice Schneider or Sara K. Orr.
Back to TopEnergy Committee
Peter Schaumberg, Chair
Beveridge & Diamond PC
The Energy Committee seeks to provide educational and informational opportunities to EENR section members and D.C. Bar members at large on a variety of energy related topics. The Committee regularly sponsors brown bag talks, luncheon seminars and roundtables, as well as cosponsors events with other D.C. Bar sections, and occasionally with the ABA SEER Energy committees.
Also, this summer Congress is grappling with a number of major new energy-related proposals. Time will tell what, if anything, will come of these legislative efforts. The Energy Committee and EENR plan to present one or more programs on the new legislation in the fall.
The Energy Committee is always looking for active participation by EENR section members, particularly new practitioners. We welcome new ideas for programs and activities. Please contact Peter Schaumberg directly.
Back to TopIndian Law Committee
Dean B. Suagee, Chair
Hobbs Straus Dean & Walker LLP
The committee on Indian Law seeks to provide educational programs and a forum for discussion of developments in the field of federal Indian law with an emphasis on environmental, energy and natural resources practice. The committee is relatively new, having been created in 2004. Any member of the Section can join this new committee and help to plan future programs.
On May 3, the Indian Law Committee cosponsored an off-the-record brown bag program on Indian Tribes and Energy: Implementation of the Indian Energy title of the 2005 Energy Policy Act. The event was also co-sponsored by the ABA Native American Resources Committee, which allowed for people across the country to dial in and hear the speakers while viewing Power Point slides on their personal computers. For more information, see Recent Section Events.
The EENR Indian Law Committee is planning on working with the ABA Native American Resources Committee to sponsor a series of future programs, some of which may be offered for CLE credit. Current plans call for that series to begin in January 2008.
The committee is chaired by Dean Suagee, of counsel with Hobbs, Straus, Dean & Walker LLP. Section members who would like to help plan future programs are invited to contact Mr. Suagee.
Back to TopInternational Committee
Jim Rubin, Chair
Hunton & Williams, LLP
The International Environmental Law Committee seeks to provide educational programs on cutting edge issues of international environmental law.
On July 24, the committee hosted a panel presentation on new developments in international trade and ocean resources. Jim Rubin of EENR moderated the panel presentation, which discussed developments at the WTO on fisheries subsidies and implementation of the High Seas Driftnet Moratorium Protection Act, an act providing for, among other things, trade measures and other actions for countries certified as having vessels engaged in illegal and unreported fishing or by-catch of protected living marine resources.
The presentation was particularly notable for the spirited discussions among the panelists and audience, which included many with significant knowledge and experience on these matters, including current and former government officials, environmental NGOs and foreign representatives.
The Glamis Gold v. U.S. program originally scheduled for June 26 has been postponed until later this Fall.
The committee is considering additional programs in the Fall concerning climate change and international enforcement. We are also interested in additional suggestions or assistance by interested bar members. Please contact Jim Rubin or Charles Di Leva with your comments.
Back to TopNatural Resources Committee
James Walpole, Chair
Fred Wagner, Vice Chair
Beveridge & Diamond
The EENR Section’s Natural Resources Committee covers a broad range of natural resource issues, including public lands use and management, forest resources, endangered species, coastal zone issues, wetlands, water quality and water resources, mining and minerals management, and environmental impact assessment.
The committee is now chaired by Jim Walpole, former NOAA General Counsel. For further information, please contact Mr. Walpole.
Back to TopRecent Section Events
Indian Tribes and Energy: Implementation of the Indian Energy Title of the 2005 Energy Policy Act
May 3, 2007
This well attended, off-the-record panel discussion featured key officials of the Department of Energy (DOE) and Department of the Interior (DOI), reporting on what both agencies are doing to carry out their mandates under the Indian Energy title. Representing DOI was Robert W. Middleton, Director of Indian Energy and Economic Development. DOE was represented by Thomas Sacco, Director of the Tribal Energy Program.
A nonfederal perspective was provided by Dean Suagee, of counsel with Hobbs, Straus, Dean & Walker, and chair of the EENR Indian Law committee. The program was moderated by Sheila Jones, a partner with Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, and Chair of the EENR steering committee. Akin Gump generously hosted the program.
Back to TopAdvice and Referral Clinic at So Others Might Eat (S.O.M.E)
May 5, 2007
The EENR Community Outreach committee co-sponsored a session of the D.C. Bar Advice and Referral Clinic at So Others Might Eat (S.O.M.E) in Northeast D.C. Many thanks to our intrepid EENR members Elliott Rockler, Jill Grant, Adam Siegel, Maria da Cunha, Michael Eisenberg, Michael Formica, and Holly Cafer for spending their Saturday Morning helping those in need find legal counsel and navigate difficult issues.
We’d also like to thank Leah Myers of the D.C. Bar, who helped coordinate the program.
EENR will again sponsor a program on November 3, 2007. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Jim Rubin.
Back to TopEnvironmental Law Institute’s Summer School Program
Beginning June 12, 2007
The EENR is co-sponsoring the Environmental Law Institute’s Summer School program, entitled Summer School: An Introduction to Careers in Environmental Policy. At the opening session, former EENR chair Karen Wardinski spoke about her career in both private practice and the government. Additional sessions focused on the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, Chemical Regulation, RCRA, and CERCLA.
The program ends August 7 with an examination of the Endangered Species Act. If you’re interested in more information about this or other ELI programs, click here.
Back to TopSummer Reception for Aspiring Environmental, Natural Resources, and Energy Lawyers
July 24, 2007
Our popular reception annual reception for aspiring environmental lawyers was once again a success. Held at the City Club of Washington at Franklin Square, the reception is an opportunity to meet lawyers from private firms government agencies, public interest groups, and academia who share a passion for the practice of environmental, natural resources, and energy law.
The informal reception is a designed to allow aspiring attorneys to discuss career objectives, and find out about opportunities in the diverse practice of environmental law.
We are looking forward to hosting a similar event next summer.
Back to TopNew Developments in International Trade and Ocean Resources
July 30, 2007
EENR hosted this panel presentation on new developments in international trade and ocean resources. Speakers included Rebecca Lent, Director of the Office of International Affairs at NOAA Fisheries Service, Alice Mattice, Director for Trade and Environmental Policy Planning, USTR, Leslie Delagran, economist at Oceana, and John Connelly, President of the National Fisheries Institute. Jim Rubin moderated.
Please see the International Committee update above for more information.
Back to TopEmerging Issues in Agriculture: Animal Welfare, Environmental, and Food Safety Regulation
July 31, 2007
Over forty attendees gathered at Skadden, Arps to hear this panel discussion hosted by EENR. Speakers included USDA General Counsel Marc Kesselman, Steven Boms, Legislative Assistant for Agriculture Issues to Representative Gary Ackerman (D-NY), and Karla Raettig, counsel with the Environmental Integrity Project. Sarah Conant of the Animal Protection Litigation Section of The Humane Society of the United States served as moderator.
The panel gave the audience an overview of federal laws that pertain to agricultural production, including the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, CERCLA (Superfund), the Federal Meat Inspection Act, the Poultry Products Inspection Act, and the Egg Products Inspection Act. The panel also discussed pending legislation, including the 2007 Farm Bill and the Downed Animal and Food Safety Protection Act of 2007.
Upcoming Events
The Section is developing a number of interesting substantive and social events planned for the fall and winter months. While the calendar has not been finalized, we urge you to check back later in August for a complete list of upcoming events.
For a complete list of EENR Section sponsored or co-sponsored events, as well as registration information, click here.
Back to Top
Leadership Rosters
Committee Chair Roster
Animal Law
Ethan Eddy, Chair
Humane Society of the U.S.
2100 L Street NW
Washington, DC 20037
Phone: (202) 676-2329
Fax: (202) 778-6132
E-mail: eeddy@hsus.org
Community Outreach
Anna L. Wolgast, Chair
US Environmental Protection Agency
1341 G Street NW, Room 606
Washington, DC 20005
Phone: (202) 233-0116
Fax: (202) 233-0121
E-mail: ewolgast.anna@epa.gov
Janice M. Schneider
Latham & Watkins
555 11th Street NW, Suite 1000
Washington, DC 20004
Phone: (202) 637-2261
Fax: (202) 637-2201
Email: janice.schneider@lw.com
Energy
Peter J. Schaumberg, Chair
Beveridge & Diamond, PC
1350 I Street NW, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20005-3311
Phone: (202) 789-6043
Fax: (202) 789-6190
E-mail: pschaumberg@bdlaw.com
Indian Law
Dean B. Suagee, Chair
Hobbs Straus Dean & Walker LLP
2120 L Street NW
Suite 700
Washington, DC 20037
Phone: (202) 822-8282
Fax: (202) 296-8834
E-mail: dsuagee@hsdwdc.com
International
James Rubin, Chair
Hunton & Williams LLP
1900 K Street NW
Washington, DC 20006
Phone: (202) 955-1611
Fax: (202) 828-3735
E-mail: jrubin@hunton.com
Natural Resources
James Walpole, Chair
Fred R. Wagner, Vice Chair
Beveridge & Diamond PC
1350 I Street NW, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20005
Phone: (202) 789-6041
Fax: (202) 789-6190
E-mail: fwagner@bdlaw.com
Publications
Max Williamson, Chair
Beveridge & Diamond PC1350 I Street, NW
Suite 700
Washington, DC 20005
Phone: (202) 789-6084
Fax: (202) 789-6190
Email: dwilliamson@bdlaw.com
Steering Committee Roster
Charles E. Di Leva
The World Bank
1818 H Street NW
Washington DC 20433
Phone: (202) 458-1745
Fax: (202) 522-1573
Email: cdileva@worldbank.org
Sheila D Jones
Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld LLP
1333 New Hampshire Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: (202) 887-4000
Fax: (202) 887-4288
Email: sjones@akingump.com
Ann R. Klee
Crowell & Moring, LLP
1001 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20004-2595
Phone: (202) 624-2720
Fax: (202) 628-5116
Email: aklee@crowell.com
Brenda Mallory
US Enviornmental Protection Agency
Office of General Counsel
Washington, DC 20460
Phone: 202-564-0633
Fax: 202-564-5644
Email: mallory.brenda@epa.gov
Amy McDonnell
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation
6 Herndon Avenue
Annapolis, MD 21403
Phone: 443-482-2153
Fax: 410-268-6687
Email: mcdonnellamy@prodigy.net
Barry N. Roth
Dept. of the Interior
1849 C Street NW, Room 3209
Washington, DC 20240
Phone: (202) 208-3126
Fax: (202) 208-3877
E-mail: bnroth@verizon.net
James W. Rubin
Hunton & Williams, LLP
1900 K Street NW
Washington, DC 20006
Phone: (202) 955-1611
Fax: (202) 828-3735
E-mail: jrubin@hunton.com
James R Walpole
Email: jrwalpole@comcast.net
Anna L Wolgast
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
1341 G Street NW, Room 606
Washington, DC 20005
Phone: (202) 233-0116
Fax: (202) 233-0121
Email: wolgast.anna@epa.gov
