New York State Bar Association Environmental and Energy Law Section

It was fabulous to reconnect with our colleagues and learn new things. Am grateful for and to our EELs community.

Be sure to read this month’s Environmental Justice Newsletter! #environmentaljustice #civilrights #climatechange #communitygrants

Don’t miss the most recent Climate Change Blog by Carl Howard. https://lnkd.in/gF9KRncw The blog includes summaries of the Supreme Court Chevron and Jarkesy cases, information concerning the over-heating of our oceans and the melting polar ice sheet, AI - an energy hog, Good News on renewable energy generation, growing use of batteries, struggling wind power, and, of course, Washington DC. #climatechange #AI #renewableenergy #heatwaves #environment #environmentallaw

30x30 is a New York State initiative that is a part of greater national and international goals of conserving 30% of lands and waters. To achieve the 30x30 goal, DEC and the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) have developed the New York State 30x30 Draft Strategies and Methodology. DEC and OPRHP will be accepting comments on the New York State 30x30 Draft Strategies and Methodology until August 30, 2024. Please submit written comments by emailing [email protected]. https://lnkd.in/eDcd4YmP #conservation #environmental #landconservation #waterconservation

Learn About Proposed Changes to NY's Freshwater Wetland Regulations Major changes in NY’s Freshwater Wetlands regulations will take effect January 1, 2025. The proposed rule would clarify jurisdictional status of smaller wetlands of “unusual importance” that meet one of 11 specific criteria contained in the Freshwater Wetlands Act as amended in 2022. In addition, the draft regulations provide a revised wetlands classification system and a process for the public to request and appeal jurisdictional determinations. Earlier this year, DEC gathered input through an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (which was the topic of a webinar held in February as part of the Conservation and Land Use Webinar Series). Currently, the DEC is accepting comments on the draft regulations. There are several information webinars planned to discuss the need for the regulatory changes and the contents of the draft regulations. Speaker:  Krista Spohr, Environmental Program Specialist, Bureau of Wildlife and Habitat, DEC Webinar Dates and Registration:  Wednesday, August 14, 2024, 12:00-1:00 p.m. Hosted by the New York Planning Federation To register, send an email to [email protected]. Tuesday, August 27, 2024, 1:00-2:00 p.m. on WebEx Conservation and Land Use Webinar Series Register to attend. (This webinar may fill up; capacity is limited to 1,000). Once you register, you will receive an email message with a link to submit questions. #wetlands, #newyork #DEC #wetlandprotections

The discount on hotel rooms for the Fall Meeting ends August 26, 2024. Please make your room reservation today at The Equinox Resort! See below for full agenda and details. The Equinox is a luxury golf and spa resort in Manchester, VT featuring elegant accommodations and excellent onsite dining in Vermont's picturesque Green Mountains. Join the Section for the Fall Meeting and enjoy this beautiful setting for a great getaway, timely CLE programming, and the opportunity to connect with your colleagues. Environmental & Energy Law Section 2024 Fall Meeting The Equinox Golf Resort & Spa 3567 Main St, Manchester, VT 05254 Wednesday, September 25 – Thursday, September 26, 2024 4.0 MCLE Credits 4.0 Areas of Professional Practice #environmentallaw #energylaw #environmental

Draft Regulations to Protect Freshwater Wetlands Released for Public Review The DEC has released proposed regulations to implement amendments to New York's Freshwater Wetlands Act that would safeguard an estimated one million additional acres of unprotected wetland habitat by expanding the number of wetlands regulated by DEC. The proposed rule would take effect in January 2025 and clarify jurisdictional status of smaller wetlands of “unusual importance” that meet one of 11 specific criteria contained in the newly amended Freshwater Wetlands Act. In addition, the draft regulations provide a revised wetlands classification system and a process for the public to request and appeal jurisdictional determinations. DEC encourages the public to comment on the proposed regulations. Comments will be accepted through September 19, 2024, and can be submitted via e-mail to: [email protected] (subject: “Wetlands Part 664 Comments”) or via mail to NYSDEC, Attn: Roy Jacobson, Jr., 5th Floor, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-4756. The public can also provide comments during virtual and in-person public hearings. The virtual public hearings are scheduled for September 10 at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. An in-person public hearing is scheduled for September 12 at 1 p.m. at the DEC office at 625 Broadway, Albany, NY. https://lnkd.in/gkPFVZkG #wetlands #regulations #FreshwaterWetlandsAct #environmental #newyork

Be sure to check out our most recent New York State Bar Association Environmental and Energy Law Section EJ Committee Newsletter - Summer Edition! 😎 In this one, we highlight: ♦ Upcoming EJ-related events and webinars ♦ WE ACT for Environmental Justice's 2024 Extreme Heat Policy Agency ♦ NYS Department of Environmental Conservation's new policy incorporating permitting impacts on Disadvantaged Communities and more! #environmentaljustice #extremeheat #disadvantagedcommunities #environmentallaw #DEC #EJ

Join millions of people reducing their plastic waste. Plastic Free July® is a global movement that helps millions of people be part of the solution to plastic pollution – so we can have cleaner streets, oceans, and beautiful communities. https://lnkd.in/f6rJSUr #plasticfreejuly #plasticwaste #pollution

The Supreme Court overruled its 1984 decision in Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council, which held that courts should defer to an agency’s reasonable interpretation of an ambiguous statute. In Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, the court rules 6-3 that courts may not defer to an agency interpretation of the law simply because a statute is ambiguous. The Supreme Court specifically held that "the Administrative Procedure Act requires courts to exercise their independent judgment in deciding whether an agency has acted within its statutory authority, and courts may not defer to an agency interpretation of the law simply because a statute is ambiguous." https://lnkd.in/eQ4vjV_X #environmentallaw #environment #Chevron #AgencyDeference #AdministrativeProcedureAct #Interpretation