Professionals involved in environmental impact assessments can’t miss the star-studded faculty at ALI-ABA’s annual advanced course on the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)and its related requirements on April 27-28, in Washington, DC.
The two-day course, cosponsored by the Environmental Law Institute, covers the present state of the environmental impact statement (EIS) process and NEPA law and practice at the state and federal levels. Not just for lawyers, this program was also designed to meet the needs of environmental consultants, government officials and corporate personnel. The faculty includes many of the most experienced environmental professionals engaged in environmental assessments and EIS preparation, as well as in federal and state court litigation under the act.
At “Environmental Impact Assessment: NEPA and Related Requirements,” Schiffer will cover the legal and judicial trends of NEPA in her presentation “Where Has NEPA Been? Where Is NEPA Going?” Additional course speakers for include, Dinah Bear, Council of Environmental Quality General Counsel, Mark Chertok, attorney with New York-based Sive, Paget & Riesel, P.C., William M. Cohen, Chief of Environment and Natural Resources Division’s General Litigation Section, Barry Hill, Director of EPA’s Office of Environmental Justice, Nathaniel Lawrence, a Senior Attorney at Natural Resources Defense Council, and Lance Wood, Assistant Chief Counsel for the Army Corps of Engineers’ Environmental and Regulatory Programs.
NEPA, passed by Congress in 1969, marked the beginning of the modern environmental law era. The statute directs all federal agencies to consider environmental impacts in their decision-making and prepare and promulgate an EIS for major federal actions. Almost immediately, NEPA became a major ground for environmental litigation and has remained so. The federal statute spurred states and municipalities to adopt similar measures. In addition, more than 85 countries have enacted statutes modeled after NEPA, and environmental impact assessments are required by many multilateral organizations.
Tuition for the course is $695, and includes a book of specially prepared study outlines and related materials, continental breakfasts, and a reception. Registrations will be accepted at the door, but space is limited. This course is approved for 13 60-minute hours of CLE instruction credit including one hour of ethics. Tuition assistance may be available for minority lawyers, public interest lawyers, government lawyers, and recently admitted solo practitioners.