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The University of Michigan

The University of Michigan. Environmental Law Society Introductory Meeting. Introduction. Co-chairs : Wendy Watson Amanda Heyman

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The University of Michigan

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  1. The University of Michigan Environmental Law Society Introductory Meeting

  2. Introduction • Co-chairs: • Wendy Watson • Amanda Heyman • Mission: The University of Michigan Environmental Law Society (ELS) serves foremost as a forum for students energized by environmental issues and concerned with how the law may or may not adequately address those issues. ELS also strives to provide first hand opportunities for those students who see environmental law in their professional future.

  3. Board Members • Co-Chairs: • Amanda Heyman: anheyman@umich.edu • Wendy Watson: wmwatson@umich.ed • Treasurer: • David Hobstetter: davidhob@umich.edu • Journal/Symposium: • Anjali Patel: agpatel@umich.edu • Kara Alesi: kcalesi@umich.edu

  4. More Board Members • Speakers: • Kyle Marinello: kmarine@umich.edu • Pro Bono Service: • Stephen Oertle: soertle@umich.edu • Mark Shahinian: mlvs@umich.edu • Careers/Alumni Panels: • Shane Conway: conwaysh@umich.edu

  5. Still More Board Members • Social Committee: • Heather Gott: hgott@umich.edu • Publicity: • Lara DuMond: dumondl@umich.edu • Faculty Liaison: • Susan West: selwest@umich.edu

  6. Upcoming Social Events • Heather Gott • hgott@umich.edu • Events • Canoe Trip • Happy Hour • Hikes • BBQ

  7. Publicity Committee • Lara DuMond • dumondl@umich.edu • Responsibilities • Designing ELS event posters • Event advertisement

  8. Ways to get involved… …Symposiums, Journals, Casenotes, Pro bono and more

  9. Great Lakes Symposium • Kara Alesi • kcalesi@umich.edu • Anjali Patel • agpatel@umich.edu • September 29, 2006 • Four topics: • Federalism • Public Trust Doctrine • International Law • Public Policy

  10. Great Lakes Symposium Continued • Free for Students • $5 for banquet • Register on website: http://students.law.umich.edu/els/symposium_home.html • Need help with • Transportation to/from airport for speakers • Registration on the 29th

  11. Conferences • National Ass’n of Environmental Law Societies (NAELS) Annual Conference • March 15-18, 2007 • George Washington University, Washington, D.C. • The Public Interest Environmental Law Conference (PIELC) • March 1-4, 2007 • 25th Anniversary • Unapologetically pro-public interest and pro-environment

  12. Moot Court • 19th Annual National Environmental Law Moot Court Competition • Location: Pace University Law School, White Plains, NY • Dates: Feb. 22 – 24 • One team of up to three students submits a brief prior to the competition and presents oral arguments during the competition

  13. Casenotes • Get Published! • Environment Section of the State Bar of Michigan’s Environmental Law Journal • Summarize an important state case • Latest issue: www.michbar.org/environmental/pdfs/winterspring06.pdf

  14. Become an ELS 1L Representative! • New Board position • One-semester commitment • Help involve 1Ls in ELS • Come talk to Wendy or Amanda, or email us by Friday if you are interested

  15. Jobs / Alumni • Shane Conway • conwaysh@umich.edu • Events • Environmental jobs meeting • Alumni talk

  16. Speaker Committee • Kyle Landis-Marinello • kmarine@umich.edu • Mission: • Get speakers that will fill the room • Think Big . . .

  17. Speaker Committee

  18. Speaker Committee

  19. Speaker Committee

  20. Speaker Committee

  21. Speaker Committee

  22. Pro Bono Committee Mark Shahinian & Stephen Oertle Mission: link law students with non-profits, governmental organizations, and private institutions Benefits: Provides students with a volunteer outlet in which they can also receive valuable legal training and mentoring. In return, the partner organizations net academic year law student “interns” with all of our associated resources

  23. Land Use • Washtenaw land trust (conservation easements) • Kate Redman -- team leader • City of Ann Arbor (wetlands permits, other general work)

  24. Energy • Michigan Public Service Commission • Contracting work for pilot energy efficiency program • Rosebud Sioux Tribe • Looking at expiring transmission line easements • Will help Rosebud and other tribes put wind power on the grid

  25. Litigation • Private, for-profit law firm located in Traverse City, Michigan • Specializes in environmental law, land use, real estate, Indian, and corporate law. • Represents local governments, community organizations, Indian tribes, small businesses, and individuals. With the conviction that the law can be a tool for positive social change

  26. Representative cases • Suit to prevent rezoning of a 470 acre recreational property for sand and gravel mining • The Boy Scouts own a large camp – historically used for recreation – in Metamora Township. • They leased 470 acres to Levy Corp. for gravel mining. • The surrounding community has many concerns, including for example the destruction of habitat and polluting natural resources, affecting the remediation of the groundwater contamination, dust and noise, and truck traffic effects. • An organization of affected neighbors and community members filed a motion to intervene in the litigation in order to prevent Levy Corp. from rezoning the land for mining. • Law student volunteers may help with several projects such as preparing a brief on certain affirmative defenses, and reviewing public files and reviewing discovery responses for relevant evidence.

  27. Another case • Wastewater Discharge into AuSable River headwaters: • Merit Energy has proposed to pump groundwater contaminated by crude oil and brine through an air stripper to remove the oil contamination and then pump it through a 1.3 mile pipeline into Kolke Creek, a prime trout stream. • The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has issued a Certificate of Coverage under a General NPDES permit to Merit Energy to discharge the treated wastewater into Kolke Creek. • The firm needs assistance researching and drafting a brief appealing a NPDES permit issued by the DEQ and upheld by an administrative law judge.. • They also need help preparing for a civil action over surface water rights, riparian rights, trespass/nuisance, and the Michigan Environmental Protection Act

  28. Green OCI Carbon offsets program for on-campus recruiting process • Need help with marketing and expansion • http://students.law.umich.edu/els/goci_home.htm

  29. Speaker Committee • Mandatory Duties: • 1 meeting every month • Email brainstorming • Optional Duties: • Contacting potential speakers • Especially if you know someone • Helping with travel arrangements • Introducing a speaker • Writing a thank-you note

  30. Thanks for coming… • This presentation, with contact names, email addresses, etc., will be emailed to the ELS listserv • Other questions?

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