Endangered Species Law & Policy

Nossaman’s Environmental Practice attorneys will be off to a great start in 2019 presenting at many key events around the U.S. focused on endangered species and environmental issues.

First, on January 10^th, Austin-based Environment & Land Use Partner Brooke Wahlberg will speak at the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s 2019 Policy Orientation in Austin.  Brooke’s presentation is entitled Frogs or Freedom:  Are New Limitations Coming for the Endangered Species Act?  Policy Orientation is the premier gathering for all Americans interested in the future of the Lone Star State—and the country.  At Policy Orientation, scholars, experts, and distinguished guests explore in depth the forces shaping our world—how they affect us, and how we may influence them.

Then in Seattle, Environment & Land Use Partner Svend Brandt-Erichsen kicks off the year presenting at Law Seminar International's 16th Annual Intensive One-Day Seminar on SEPA & NEPA in Downtown Seattle on January 11^th.  Svend’s presentation will cover SEPA Procedural Strategies, including use of SEPA Section 240, use of NEPA documents for SEPA review, dealing with SEPA emergencies, and managing the risk of other parties being awarded attorney fees.  The full seminar qualifies for 6.50 WA MCLE, 6.50 AICP (Planner), and 6.50 ABCEP (Environmental Professional) credits.

Up next, Environment & Land Use attorneys Rob Thornton and David Miller will once again be participating in Transportation Research Board’s Annual Meeting, being held in Washington, DC, from January 13–17, 2019.  The spotlight theme for the 2019 meeting is Transportation for a Smart, Sustainable, and Equitable Future, and will include presentations on topics such as Developing Climate Adaptation Strategies That Address Ecological Concerns Associated with Transportation Facilities, Current Issues in Ecology and Transportation, and Public Lands Transportation Fellows:  Solving Transportation Challenges at U.S. National Wildlife Refuges.

We return to Texas at the end of January, where Brooke Wahlberg will be speaking at the 2019 Renewable Energy Law Conference at Austin’s AT&T Conference Center on January 28^th.  Brooke’s presentation is entitled Endangered Species and Wildlife – Mitigation as Risk Management, and will focus on the issue that endangered species and protected habitat areas can present risks to renewable projects, including potential impacts to project timing and costs.  This conference is presented by The University of Texas School of Law and The Oil, Gas and Energy Resources Law Section of the State Bar of Texas.

In February, Nossaman is back in our nation’s capital, where DC-based Partner, pillar of the Environmental Law Bar, and former Deputy Under Secretary of the Department of the Interior, Steve Quarles will be serving as an instructor for American Law Institute’s Advanced Course on Environmental Law, co-sponsored by the Environmental Law Institute.  Steve’s session is entitled Public Lands and ESA:  Balancing Conservation with Industry Demands, and will take place on February 8^th.  Topics covered will include regulatory developments and recent significant litigation.  This program can be attended either in person or via webinar, and CLE credit for the full course will comprise a total of 13.75 sixty-minute hours, including one hour of ethics.

Rounding out Nossaman’s Environmental & Endangered Species New Year, Brooke Wahlberg will serve as an instructor at CLE International’s 29th Annual Texas Wetlands Conference in Houston, on March 29^th.  Brooke will be addressing Endangered Species Act in the Wetlands Context--Issues Across Texas.  Participants can earn up to 12 hours of MCLE Credit, including one hour of Ethics, or up to 12 hours of Engineering and Real Estate Credit.

We hope to see you at some of our exciting Endangered Species and Environmental presentations as Nossaman rings in the New Year focused on providing the best, most current information on crucial topics for our clients in these areas.