The Environmental Law Section offers monthly CLE presentations on subjects relevant to environmental regulation, conservation, and enforcement, both at the national and local level. Speakers Include, among others, elected officials, regulators, industry executives, and environmental entrepreneurs. The ELS also sponsors educational events in conjunction with numerous state agencies, including the Houston Ship Channel Boat Patrol. The ELS ordinarily holds lunch meetings on the second Wednesday of the month.

Environmental Law Section January Meeting:
Date & Time: Wednesday, January 11, 2012; 11:30 a.m - 1:00 p.m.
Place: Petroleum Club, 800 Bell St., 43rd Floor. Nearest MetroRail: Bell.
Program: Arnoldo Medina, Jr., Senior Counsel, Chevron and David C. Schanbacher, Natural Resources Policy Division, to present "Creatures of Habitat: Consequences of Endangered Species Act in the Oil and Gas Arena."
CLICK HERE for Texas Endangered Species Issues: January 2012 PDF presentation
CLICK HERE for Creatures of Habitat: January 2012 PDF presentation

Environmental Law Section February Meeting:
Date & Time: Wednesday, February 8, 2012; 11:30 a.m - 1:00 p.m.
Cost: $30 for members; $35 for non-members and guests; $20 for government, non-profit and academic employees; $15 for law students; and $40 for walk-ins or those who RSVP and fail to show.
Program: Jim Blackburn, Blackburn & Carter, P.C., to present "Environmental Ethics."

Please join us for a presentation on a topical ethics issue by Jim Blackburn of Blackburn & Carter, P.C. Jim Blackburn will present a discussion of various ethical issues associated with science and its usage in the legal process. This presentation will include discussion of the responsibilities of counsel relative to science and truth. Among the discussion items are Daubert and related-state and federal cases as well as specific examples from recent federal court litigation that raise questions about where the lines of responsibility lie. Additionally, the recent situation regarding Rice University Professor John Anderson and the attempted censorship of his opinions regarding climate change will be discussed. An attorney for more than 30 years, Jim Blackburn is a partner in Blackburn Carter, P.C., a firm devoted to environmental law and planning. Blackburn is also a Professor in the Practice of Environmental Law in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Rice University, teaching courses in sustainable development and environmental law. He serves as Director of the Interdisciplinary Minor in Energy and Water Sustainability at Rice and is a Faculty Associate for the SSPEED Center studying "Lessons Learned from Hurricane Ike" as well as leading a course/project titled "Measuring Sustainability: Project Houston." His current caseload includes litigation over the future of the whooping crane on the Texas Coast and opposition to permits needed to enable uranium mining in Goliad County. Mr. Blackburn is active in community issues and is a co-founder of Houston Wilderness, the Matagorda Bay Foundation and the Galveston Bay Foundation; and he is the recipient of many awards including The Barbara C. Jordan Community Advocate Award presented by Texas Southern University in 2007.

Information: RSVP to Laura Talbot at ltalbot@velaw.com. Send checks payable to HBA, to Laura Talbot, Vinson & Elkins, 1001 Fannin, Suite 2500, Houston, Texas 77002.

Luncheons include a monthly casenote series from our newest members on emerging topics.

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Section Members - 168

Section Dues

$20 for 4 years or less
$30 for 5 years or more

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