FORMER ENVIRONMENTAL LAW INSTITUTE PRESIDENT
AND NEW MEXICO ENVIRONMENTAL LAW CENTER
TO RECEIVE ABA ENVIRONMENTAL LAW AWARDS

WASHINGTON, D.C., July 29, 2004 – Former Environmental Law Institute and Sierra Club president J. William Futrell and the New Mexico Environmental Law Center will receive 2004 Awards for Distinguished Achievement in Environmental Law and Policy from the American Bar Association Standing Committee on Environmental Law and the Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources during the ABA Annual Meeting in Atlanta. ABA President Dennis W. Archer will present the awards during a ceremony and reception at the Ritz-Carlton on Sunday, Aug. 8.

Futrell served as president of the Environmental Law Institute from 1980-2003 and is a former president of the Sierra Club, and now is president and chief executive officer of Sustainable Development Law Associates and vice chair for North America of the World Conservation Union’s Commission on Environmental Law. He is being recognized for decades of pioneering work in improving understanding of environmental law and policy and for fostering an environmental ethic to promote sustainable development in the United States and abroad "Bill Futrell has mentored a generation of lawyers in environmental law and has devoted his life to professional and public service. We are proud to honor him with this award," said Robert L. Falk, chair of the ABA Standing Committee on Environmental Law.

The New Mexico Environmental Law Center in Santa Fe is an environmental justice public interest law firm. The only non-profit law firm in the state that focuses almost solely on cases with environmental justice components, the Law Center is being recognized for 16 years of advocacy for low-income and minority communities, advocacy that has resulted in the provision of sorely needed free and low-cost legal to New Mexico communities. The Law Center is also being recognized for its efforts to ensure that its clients are effective participants in environmental decision-making that affects their communities, its efforts to empower its clients through community training and workshops in strategy and the legal process, and its success in ensuring the enactment of state laws and regulations on solid waste and mining.

"The New Mexico Environmental Law Center has proven itself an enduring, creative, and strong force for justice in New Mexico. We are delighted to honor their work with this award," said Falk.

Established by the ABA Standing Committee on Environmental Law in 2000 and co-sponsored this year with the ABA Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources, the award recognizes individuals, organizations or programs that have distinguished themselves in environmental law and policy by contributing significant leadership in improving the substance, process or understanding of environmental protection and sustainable development.

The ABA Standing Committee on Environmental Law is devoted to examination and analysis of environmental law and policy issues; development of ABA environmental law policy positions; and facilitation of ABA environmental law programming and policymaking. The mission of the ABA Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources is to be the premier forum for strategies and information for environmental, energy and resources lawyers. The Section is committed to providing member and public services to enhance professional skills, development, and dialogue on these subject areas.

With more than 400,000 members, the American Bar Association is the largest voluntary professional membership organization in the world. As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education, and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law in a democratic society.

Editors Note: For more information about the award or the Aug. 8 event, please contact Elissa Lichtenstein at elissa@staff.abanet.orgor 202-662-1695.