Law Seminars International Presents: An Advanced One-Day Workshop on

NEPA and EIS
Impacts of recent court decisions; tips and techniques for the compliance process

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March 7, 2008
Sheraton Crescent Hotel in Phoenix, AZ

Who Should Attend

Attorneys and legal advisors, environmental professionals and government representatives, city planners, appraisers, and real estate developers

Why Attend

This workshop will cover a broad range of NEPA and EIS compliance issues, from the origins of NEPA to the use of alternative dispute resolution techniques in environmental conflicts. Highly-experienced practitioners will share tips and techniques to navigate the ever-changing NEPA/EIS landscape, including the recent Ninth Circuit Court decision mandating inclusion of climate change impacts in environmental impact statements. Arizona EIS case studies of the Black Mesa and Lake Pleasant projects will be presented, the former from the consultant perspective, the latter from the attorney perspective.

These topics will be complemented by presentations on developments both at the federal level and in California, the role of NEPA in tribal development and NEPA compliance for siting energy facilities.

~ Cindy L. Smith, and G. Van Velsor Wolf, Jr., Esq., Program Co-Chairs

You Will Learn About

Agenda

Friday, March 07, 2008

8:00 am

Registration and Continental Breakfast

 
8:30 am

Introduction & Overview

G. Van Velsor Wolf, Jr., Esq., Program Co-Chair
Snell & Wilmer L.L.P. / Phoenix, AZ

Cindy L. Smith, Program Co-Chair, V.P., Environmental Planning and Assessment Division
URS Corporation / Phoenix, AZ

 
8:45 am

NEPA/EIS: Original Applications and Evolution Over Time

James G. Derouin, Esq.
Steptoe & Johnson LLP / Phoenix, AZ

 
9:30 am

Developments Under the California Environmental Quality Act: Impacts on Current and Future Arizona Policy

Current and pending California legislation and case law; prospects for future Arizona adoption of California-inspired regulations

Sean Sherlock, Esq.
Snell & Wilmer L.L.P. / Costa Mesa, CA

 
10:00 am

Break

 
10:15 am

Developments in Government Agencies: New Policy and Enforcement Initiatives, Challenges and Solutions

Federal level

Robert D. Comer, Esq., Rocky Mountain Regional Solicitor
U.S. Department of the Interior / Lakewood, CO

State level

Richard W. Tobin, II, Esq.
Lewis and Roca LLP / Phoenix, AZ

 
11:30 am

NEPA Processes for Projects on Tribal Lands

Special considerations for doing business in tribal jurisdictions

Michael P. O'Connell, Esq.
Stoel Rives LLP / Seattle, WA

 
12:00 pm

Lunch (on your own)

 
1:15 pm

NEPA Case Studies

Black Mesa Project EIS

Cindy L. Smith, Program Co-Chair
URS Corporation / Phoenix, AZ

Lake Pleasant EIS

Marc Erpenbeck, Esq.
Snell & Wilmer L.L.P. / Phoenix, AZ

 
2:15 pm

Practical Aspects of the EIS Process

The roles of legal advisor, environmental consultant and responsible official; using existing analyses; phased review; EIS supplementation and addenda; the comment process; controversial technical issues; groundwater, surface water and air quality

Jenny J. Pelton, Esq.
Ryley Carlock & Applewhite / Phoenix, AZ

 
3:00 pm

Break

 
3:15 pm

NEPA and Energy Facilities Siting

G. Van Velsor Wolf, Jr., Esq., Program Co-Chair
Snell & Wilmer L.L.P. / Phoenix, AZ

 
3:45 pm

NEPA Case Law Update

Dalva L. Moellenberg, Esq.
Gallagher & Kennedy PA / Phoenix, AZ

 
4:30 pm

Alternative Dispute Resolution in Environmental Dispute Settings

Lester J. Levy, Esq., National Director
JAMS / San Francisco, CA

 
5:00 pm

Evaluations and Adjourn

 

Tuition

Regular tuition for this program is $595 with a group rate of $520 each for two or more registrants from the same firm. For government employees, we offer a special rate of $445. For students and people in their job for less than a year, our rate is $297.50. All rates include admission to all seminar sessions, food and beverages at breaks, and all course materials. Make checks payable to Law Seminars International.

Cancellation & Substitution

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 Friday, February 29, 2008. 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.

Continuing Education Credits

This program qualifies for 6.5 AZ CLE credits. Upon request, we will apply for CLE credits in other states and other types of credits.

Location

The workshop will be held at the Sheraton Crescent Hotel at 2620 West Dunlap Avenue in Phoenix, AZ 85021 USA. Call the hotel directly at 1-800-325-3535 for reservations at the special negotiated rate of $229.00 and mention that you are attending a Law Seminars International workshop. Priority given if reservation made on or before February 5, 2008. Rooms are on a first come, first served basis. Alternatively, sleeping rooms can be reserved at Four Point Sheraton (less than 1 mile from conference site) at the special group rate of $149.00/night. Call 602-331-9873, and mention you are attending a Law Seminars conference.
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Map & Directions

If You Cannot Attend

Our complete Homestudy Course, consisting of a VHS or DVD recording and the written course materials, is available for $605. The written course materials alone are available for $100. We will ship your Homestudy order via UPS ground within two weeks after the seminar or the date we receive payment (whichever is later).
Order Homestudy

Faculty Bios

Cindy L. Smith, Program Co-Chair, Vice President, Environmental Planning and Assessment Division with Arizona-Nevada URS Corporation, manages large-scale, complex, interdisciplinary NEPA projects. She is experienced in managing EISs and working with governmental and tribal agencies, groups of various cultural affiliations, special interest groups and technical advisory/work groups throughout the West.

G. Van Velsor Wolf Jr., Program Co-Chair, coordinator of Snell & Wilmer L.L.P.'s Real Estate, Environmental, Energy & Finance Law Practice Group, concentrates on environmental due diligence in transactions, liability analysis, regulatory compliance and environmental claim defense. He was named in Best Lawyers In America and Chambers USA.
Full bio and contact info for G. Van Velsor Wolf Jr. at Snell & Wilmer L.L.P.

Robert D. Comer, Rocky Mountain Regional Solicitor for the U.S. Department of the Interior, provides legal services to every agency of the Department. He was the Department's Associate Solicitor for Land and Water Resources and previously practiced in business and transactional legal issues and litigation in environmental and natural resource law.

James G. Derouin, partner at Steptoe & John LLP, practices environmental compliance and defense law. He counsels clients on environmental liability and civil settlement agreements with government agencies and was the primary negotiator of Arizona Environmental Quality Act. He was named in Best Lawyers in America and Chambers USA.

Marc Erpenbeck, partner with Snell & Wilmer L.L.P., focuses on litigation matters related to the environment, construction, and toxic torts; environmental and land use counseling; environmental due diligence and land development, including permitting, compliance, and administrative dispute resolution.
Full bio and contact info for Marc Erpenbeck at Snell & Wilmer L.L.P.

Lester J. Levy, is the National Director of JAMS' environmental panel. He is a mediator, arbitrator and court-appointed Special Master, Judge Pro-Tem and Discovery Referee in environmental insurance coverage and property damage, land use and water law, natural resource damages and regulatory and compliance issues. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has selected him to be a Neutral Allocator for its national program.

Dalva L. Moellenberg, shareholder at Gallagher & Kennedy P.A., concentrates on environmental permitting, compliance counseling and litigation regarding mining and other natural resource projects. He was named in Best Lawyers in America, Chambers USA and Southwest Super Lawyers.

Michael P. O'Connell, partner at Stoel Rives LLP, advises on permitting for energy and other projects on and outside Indian reservations, leases, construction contracts and other business transactions with Indian tribes. Previously, he was General Counsel to the Hopi Tribe.

Jenny J. Pelton, shareholder at Ryley Carlock & Applewhite, focuses on water, natural resources and environmental law and counsels in compliance with state and federal laws requiring evaluation of impacts to environmental and cultural resources (NEPA), water rights and acquisition, conservation easements negotiation and public land use law.
Full bio and contact info for Jenny J. Pelton at Ryley Carlock & Applewhite

Sean Sherlock, partner at Snell & Wilmer L.L.P., focuses on environmental and land use matters, including litigation under the California Environmental Quality Act. He assists clients with Brownfields development, entitlement proceedings and compliance with environmental regulations.
Full bio and contact info for Sean Sherlock at Snell & Wilmer L.L.P.

Richard W. Tobin II, of counsel at Lewis and Roca LLP, has a military and state government career background providing leadership in management and law in environmental and energy issues. Previously, he was first Deputy Director and then Acting Director of the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality.

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