Top EPA, DOJ and DOI officials to speak at ABA environmental law conference in Baltimore

David Hindin, director of the Office of Compliance at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; Jack Haugrud, deputy solicitor at the U.S. Department of the Interior; Deborah Harris, chief, Environmental Crimes Section at the U.S. Department of Justice; and Christopher Day, Region 3 senior assistant regional counsel for the EPA, are among the speakers at the American Bar Association Section of Environment, Energy and Resources 25th Fall Conference, Oct. 18-21 at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront hotel.

Key environmental, energy and resources authorities will discuss the legal landscape of public land management; how cities are effectively implementing resilient and sustainable initiatives; practical insights on food law that impact environmental law and legal implications of emerging pollution sensors and monitoring technologies, among other topics.

Program highlights include:

• “News from Inside the Beltway: Administration and Congressional Priorities for Environmental, Energy and Resources Law and Policy” —  While the Trump administration’s federal environmental law and policy initiatives have started to take shape over the last months, there are still many unanswered questions that face practitioners. Understanding what the administration and congressional representatives see as priorities for environmental, resource and energy issues is key to successfully advising clients. This session will provide insider perspectives on how the federal government might address issues including public lands, climate change and conservation. Attendees will have the opportunity to query panelists on specific areas of interest. Speakers include: Susan Bodine, senior adviser to the administrator of the EPA, Washington, D.C., and Kevin S. Minoli, acting general counsel for the EPA.

• “And Then There Were Nine: Supreme Court Action on Environmental, Energy and Resource Issues” — A fully staffed Supreme Court will grapple with a number of important environmental, energy and resource issues. While the 2016–17 term was comparatively quiet, it did include significant cases addressing takings and the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule. This year all signs point to fireworks in cases that may seal the fate of signature initiatives of both the Obama and Trump administrations. A panel of leading Supreme Court scholars and practitioners will review recent decisions and upcoming cases, highlighting how actions by the nation’s highest court may impact your practice. In addition to analyzing cases that have already reached the Court, the panel members will offer their thoughts on cert-worthy cases waiting in the wings. Speakers include Sam Hirsch, former principal deputy assistant attorney general, Environment and Natural Resources Division, U.S. Department of Justice; Robin Craig, professor at S.J. Quinney College of Law at University of Utah; Theodore Garrett of Covington & Burling LLP, Washington, D.C.; Robert V. Percival, professor and director, Environmental Law Program, University of Maryland.

• “Resiliency and Sustainability Challenges for our Cities: The Role of Lawyers in Implementing Policies of Response and Prevention” — Cities are increasingly challenged by the impacts of climate change and extreme, unpredictable weather conditions. While sustainable development may be part of the answer, there is concern about the economics of incorporating innovation and green development into municipal functions. Despite the conflict, many cities have made great strides to incorporate proper emergency response and prevention strategies as well as cost-saving environmentally friendly initiatives that positively impact a municipality’s bottom line. This panel will discuss the intersection of governance, emergency response and sustainable practices that are currently being implemented by cities nationally and internationally. They will also consider how today’s lawyers can better use existing laws and statutes to meet the future challenges of advocating for cities in times of crisis.

• “The Clean Air Act under the Trump Administration” — As the Trump administration has worked to establish its identity throughout the first half of 2017, we have seen a dramatically different approach to the identification and development of Clean Air Act regulatory priorities. This panel will review the status and implementation of Trump’s priority initiatives—how the current administration is approaching regulations that were not repealed under the Congressional Review Act and regulations that are currently subject to litigation. Panelists will discuss the current state of the Clean Power Plan, regulations governing methane emissions, the Cross State Air Pollution Rule and regional haze and ozone rules. Attendees will learn about the rapidly changing area of regulation under the Clean Air Act and how to counsel clients under the changing perspectives of this administration. Speakers include: Fatima Ahmad, Center for Climate and Energy Solutions in Arlington, Va.; and Emily Fisher, Edison Electric Institute in Washington, D.C.