Attorneys, environmental and real estate professionals, corporate managers, governmental representatives, city planners and consultants
Policy momentum in Massachusetts continues to reflect the desire to streamline project approvals during an economic recovery without compromising basic environmental protections. As a result, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) recently released a final action plan for regulatory reform that could result in changes to wetlands protection and solid waste regulations. At the federal level, several new cases and new CEQA guidelines could throw regulatory curveballs at experienced environmental practitioners.
This intensive seminar on recent developments under MEPA & NEPA will cover the most relevant compliance issues facing Massachusetts developers, practitioners and environmental professionals. The program will begin with an in-depth discussion of MEPA's evolving policy priorities for the coming year and continue with updates on MassDEP regulatory reform and MEPA/NEPA case law. In addition to an overview of the relevant regulatory, legislative and decisional trends, our expert faculty will share practical first-hand lessons that will be useful and interesting for both the beginner and experienced practitioners. Topics to be discussed include EIS/EIR design and preparation and the challenges of casino permitting in Massachusetts.
This event represents a unique opportunity to hear from an expert faculty of public officials, respected practitioners and leading environmental professionals about emerging issues in MEPA/NEPA compliance. We hope you can join us.
~ Program Co-Chairs: Margaret B. Briggs of Epsilon Associates, Inc., and Matthew J. Kiefer, Esq., of Goulston & Storrs, PC
Margaret Briggs, Program Co-Chair, Managing Principal
Epsilon Associates, Inc. / Maynard, MA
Matthew J. Kiefer, Esq., Program Co-Chair
Goulston & Storrs, PC / Boston, MA
Waivers; key advisory opinions; NPCs; overall volume of filings
Maeve Vallely-Bartlett, Director, MEPA
Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs / Boston, MA
Update on regulatory reform initiatives, accomplishments; progress towards streamlining/permit reform
Douglas Fine, Assistant Commissioner for Planning & Evaluation
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection / Boston, MA
Practitioner's perspective
Ronald W. Ruth, LEED AP, Esq.
Sherin and Lodgen LLP / Boston, MA
Update on key federal cases and developments involving NEPA, including the new Council on Environmental Quality Guidelines
Mark C. Kalpin, Esq.
Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP / Boston, MA
Recent developments under MEPA: Case decisions including Canton v. Paiewonsky
Ruth H. Silman, Esq.
Nixon Peabody LLP / Boston, MA
George Bachrach, Esq., President
Environmental League of Massachusetts / Boston, MA
Coordinating host community agreement, MEPA, NEPA, city zoning and Gaming Commission submittals: Which comes first? Coordinating studies
Charles A Baker, III, Esq.
DLA Piper / Boston, MA
Stephen I. Burr, Esq.
Rackemann, Sawyer & Brewster / Boston, MA
Overview of jurisdictional issues
Brona Simon, State Historic Preservation Officer and Executive Director
Massachusetts Historical Commission / Boston, MA
Proposed lease areas south of Cape Cod; The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management leasing process
Michael D. Ernst, Esq., Director of Regulatory Affairs
Tetra Tech EC, Inc. / Boston, MA
Defining the proposal; determining which provisions of NEPA and MEPA apply; identifying the lead agency; tips for preparing notification forms and EIS/EIR documents; Phase I waivers; combined DEIR & FEIR; categorical exemptions; cumulative impacts
Matthew J. Kiefer, Esq., Program Co-Chair, Moderator
Goulston & Storrs, PC / Boston, MA
Douglas M. McGarrah, Esq.
Foley Hoag LLP / Boston, MA
Seth Kaplan, Esq., Vice President, Policy and Climate Advocacy
Conservation Law Foundation / Boston, MA
Sponsored by Epsilon Associates, Inc. and Goulston & Storrs, PC
Regular tuition for this program is $645 with a group rate of $485 each for two or more registrants from the same firm. For government employees, we offer a special rate of $430. For students and people in their job for less than a year, our rate is $322.50. All rates include admission to all seminar sessions, food and beverages at breaks, and all course materials. Make checks payable to Law Seminars International.
You may substitute another person at any time. We will refund tuition, less a $50 cancellation fee, if we receive your cancellation by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 1, 2012. After that time, we will credit your tuition toward attendance at another program or the purchase of a Homestudy. There is a $25 cancellation fee for Course Materials orders and $50 for Homestudy orders.
Live credits: This program qualifies for CLE in all states requiring CLE credits. Upon request, we will apply for, or help you apply for, CLE credits in any states and other types of credits.
The seminar will be held at the Seaport Boston Hotel at 1 Seaport Lane in Boston, MA 02210. Call the hotel directly at (800) 440-3318 for reservations at the special negotiated rate of $309 and mention that you are attending a Law Seminars International workshop. Rooms are on a first come, first served basis.
More about the Location
Map & Directions
Our complete Homestudy Course, consisting of a DVD recording and the course materials (either a binder or searchable CD), is available for $655. The course materials alone are available for $100. We will ship your Homestudy order via UPS ground within two weeks after the seminar or from the date we receive payment.
Order Homestudy
Margaret Briggs, Program Co-Chair, Managing Principal at Epsilon Associates, Inc., assists clients through the regulatory process associated with development, institutional and infrastructure projects. She has played a major role in numerous MEPA, Article 80 and NEPA projects.
Full bio and contact info for Margaret Briggs at Epsilon Associates, Inc.
Matthew J. Kiefer, Program Co-Chair, Director at Goulston & Storrs, PC, practices real estate development and land use law. He focuses on obtaining site control and public approvals for complex urban projects, including market-oriented and affordable housing, commercial and mixed-use developments.
Full bio and contact info for Matthew J. Kiefer at Goulston & Storrs, PC
Maeve Vallely-Bartlett is the MEPA Director at the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA), Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
George Bachrach, President of the Environmental League of Massachusetts, is a former state senator and lecturer, currently teaching journalism at Boston University. He regularly provides political commentary for Boston area television and radio stations.
Full bio and contact info for George Bachrach at Environmental League of Massachusetts
Charlie A. Baker III, partner at DLA Piper, focuses on major real estate developments and government relations matters. He advises clients in the casino industry, major hotel corporations, real estate developers and communication companies.
Stephen I. Burr, Director at Rackemann, Sawyer & Brewster, represents real estate developers, real estate operating companies and owners or managers of real estate based businesses (e.g. hotels, senior living facilities, casinos.)
Full bio and contact info for Stephen I. Burr at Rackemann, Sawyer & Brewster
Michael D. Ernst, Director, Regulatory Affairs at Tetra Tech EC, Inc., supervises the siting and permitting of energy facilities and the interconnection studies to connect those facilities to the grid.
Douglas Fine, Assistant Commissioner for Planning & Evaluation at the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) oversees strategic and operations planning, assessment, communications, and high-level policy issues agency-wide.
Mark C. Kalpin, partner at Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP, and co-chair of the Cleantech and Energy Group, advises clients on energy law and renewable energy generation projects.
Seth Kaplan, Vice President for Policy and Climate Advocacy at Conservation Law Foundation, focuses on fostering renewable energy, working for climate protection and reducing the environmental impact of fossil fuel power plants.
Douglas M. McGarrah, partner at Foley Hoag LLP and Co-Chair of the Real Estate/Land Use and Development Practice, focuses on major development and infrastructure projects, expedited permitting, and development of large-scale sites including approvals under NEPA and MEPA.
Full bio and contact info for Douglas M. McGarrah at Foley Hoag LLP
Ronald W. Ruth, LEED AP, is managing partner and co-chair of the Environmental Law Group at Sherin and Lodgen LLP, focusing on environmental, real estate and land use law. He is Former Legal Counsel to the Massachusetts Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Environmental Law Enforcement.
Full bio and contact info for Ronald W. Ruth LEED AP at Sherin and Lodgen LLP
Ruth H. Silman, partner at Nixon Peabody LLP, leads the Climate Change Team and focuses on environmental issues at the federal, state and local levels. Previously, she worked for the Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General in the Environmental Protection Division.
Full bio and contact info for Ruth H. Silman at Nixon Peabody LLP
Brona Simon is the State Historic Preservation Officer of Massachusetts, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Historical Commission (MHC), and State Archaeologist and Director of Technical Services at the MHC.
