Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources

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About the Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources

The Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources is the premier forum for lawyers working in areas related to environmental law, natural resources law, and energy law. The Section is committed to providing members with opportunities to enhance professional skills, stay on top of current developments, and dialogue in these substantive areas. Section membership will add to your professional skill set and broaden your knowledge.

About the Section

Highlights

2010-2011 Section Leadership

Steven G. McKinney With the conclusion of ABA Annual Meeting in early August, the 2010-2011 ABA Bar year began. The Section is pleased to announce Steven G. McKinney, Balch & Bingham LLP, Birmingham, AL as the new Section Chair. Thank you to John C. Cruden for his service as the 2009-2010 Section Chair and to the many other Section volunteers and leaders for their contributions to the Section over the past year. For full details of the 2010-2011 Section Leadership, including Officers, Council Members, and Committee Chairs, please visit our About the Section pages. (more)

Posted: September 2, 2010

18th Section Fall Meeting:
The ABA Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources Law Summit

September 29 - October 2, 2010 | Online Registration
Sheraton New Orleans | New Orleans, LA

The Big Easy, renowned for its food, music, and culture, provides the perfect setting for the 18th Section Fall Meeting, perhaps even more so with the nation’s attention focused on the Gulf Coast. Other CLE sessions will address the Clean Air and Water Acts, green jobs and buildings, renewable energy, waste, disaster preparedness, permitting tips, climate change, water rights, enforcement priorities, the Endangered Species Act, vapor intrusion, and more. Along with the outstanding sessions, meeting highlights include networking opportunities, public service activities, and a memorable New Orleans’ evening at Mardi Gras World. Don’t miss the chance to experience The Big Easy, to learn, to network, and to enjoy the company of your colleagues. See you in New Orleans!

Important Deadlines:
• Housing Deadline Extended: Monday, September 6, 2010
• Registration Deadline: Monday, September 13, 2010

Updated: September 2, 2010

From the Section and ABA Publishing

The Law of Green Buildings: Regulatory and Legal Issues in Design, Construction, Operations, and Financing
J. Cullen Howe and Michael B. Gerrard, editors

Buildings and the built environment use vast amounts of energy and other resources in construction, operation, and demolition. In 2009, the residential and commercial building sector was responsible for more than 50 percent of total annual U.S. energy consumption and 74 percent of total U.S. electricity consumption. Beyond that, buildings are responsible for significant amounts of greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants, while the materials in them can "offgas" and contribute to indoor air pollution. Green buildings use land and energy efficiently, conserve water, improve indoor and outdoor air quality, and increase the use of recycled materials. They can also lead to reduced operating costs, offering a better return on investment and overall building value.

Updated: August 24, 2010

New Membership Subsidy Program 2010-2011 - Deadline: Monday, October 25, 2010

The Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources offers a membership subsidy program designed for lawyers who have been under-represented in our Section membership. The Program’s principal goal is to have its programs, publications, and other activities reflect the diverse perspectives and interests of all lawyers who practice in the environment, energy, and resources areas. Therefore, we are looking for up to 40 minority lawyers or young lawyers interested in assisting with the development of Section activities, programs, and publications. As a membership subsidy participant, the Section will pay 50% of your ABA dues and will waive its Section dues, so that you only need to pay the remaining 50% of your ABA dues! (more)

Posted: August 4, 2010

New Committee Newsletters

The following committee newsletters are now available. Section members can join up to five substantive committees in areas of interest and receive e-mail announcements of the committees' newly posted newsletters. For more information on joining Section committees, please click here.

Agricultural Management Committee Newsletter (August 2010)
Air Quality Committee Newsletter (August 2010)
Carbon Trading and Energy Finance Committee Newsletter (August 2010)
Climate Change, Sustainable Development, and Ecosystems Committee Newsletter (August 2010)
Constitutional Law Committee Newsletter (August 2010)
Native American Resources Committee Newsletter (August 2010)
Waste and Resource Recovery Committee Newsletter (August 2010)

Updated: August 30, 2010

Environmental Justice for All

A Fifty State Survey of Legislation, Policies and Cases
This study represents an ongoing collaboration between UC Hastings College of the Law and the American Bar Association, to maintain a comprehensive and up to date survey of state environmental justice laws, policies and cases. The goal is to present the breadth of regulatory and policy techniques that the fifty states and the District of Columbia have developed to pursue environmental justice.

Posted: March 3, 2010

From the Section and ABA Publishing

Ocean and Coastal Law and Policy

The country's ocean and coastal laws and policies in many ways mirror the very resources they were created to manage, restore, and protect: they are complex, intertwined, and fluid. Published by the ABA Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources, Ocean and Coastal Law and Policy provides an authoritative yet practical resource for practioners, government officials, and scholars to understand and build upon the current legal framework of our ocean and coastal policies.

Updated: May 5, 2010

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From the Section and ABA Publishing

	The Law of Green Buildings: Regulatory and Legal Issues in Design, Construction, Operations, and Financing Buildings and the built environment use vast amounts of energy and other resources in construction, operation, and demolition. In 2009, the residential and commercial building sector was responsible for more than 50 percent of total annual U.S. energy consumption and 74 percent of total U.S. electricity consumption. Beyond that, buildings are responsible for significant amounts of greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants, while the materials in them can "offgas" and contribute to indoor air pollution. Green buildings use land and energy efficiently, conserve water, improve indoor and outdoor air quality, and increase the use of recycled materials. They can also lead to reduced operating costs, offering a better return on investment and overall building value.

	Endangered Species Act: Law, Policy, and Perspectives, Second Edition The Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA) provides a comprehensive approach to the complex problem of species extinction. Endangered Species Act: Law, Policy and Perspectives is an authoritative guide to the history of the ESA, the Act's most critical sections, the twists and turns of its implementation, and the cutting-edge issues facing the protection of endangered wildlife and its habitat. This updated edition serves as a guide for both the novice and the more experienced practitioner to the ins and outs of the ESA.

	Evolution of Natural Resources Law and Policy Globalization, corporate dominance, and shifts in resource management are nothing new: North America was "discovered" during an era of expanding global trade, and quasi-public actors such as the Massachusetts Bay Company and Hudson’s Bay Company, as well as private concerns such as the railroads, played huge roles over the centuries. The contributors to this book do more than take a look at the past, however: they chart the course of the future as well, considering such diverse topics as the ethics of natural resources policy (particularly on global warming and endangered species), mineral development of federal lands, the public law of private ecosystems, water management, and the law of forests and grasslands.

	Nanotechnology: Environmental Law, Policy, and Business Considerations The rapid commercialization of nanotechnology is one of the most intriguing industrial phenomena of the early twenty-first century. But just as the universe of applied nanotechnology is burgeoning, so are the questions raised about the possible impact of exposure to nanoscale materials on human health and the environment. The commercialization of nanotechnology poses major challenges for environmental regulators, from policy makers to scientists and engineers to lawyers. As this dynamic area continues to evolve, this book takes a comprehensive look at the regulatory, governance, and business issues of a technology that is as fascinating as it is challenging.

	Environmental Litigation: Law and Strategy The scope of what qualifies as "environmental litigation" is huge, covering a complex array of federal and state statutes, hundreds of common-law rules, and thousands of pages of regulations. At the same time, this area of litigation is growing at a tremendous pace as a result of evolving issues such as climate change litigation and as practitioners deal with the increasing number of environmental cases decided by the Supreme Court. Environmental Litigation: Law and Strategy provides expert, practical guidance on the most critical areas in this rapidly-changing area of the law.