2022 Agenda
Day 1: Thursday, September 15, 2022
9:00 AM
Welcome
Ad-Hoc Industry Natural Resource Management Group
Barbara J. Goldsmith, Executive Director, Ad-Hoc Industry Natural Resource Management Group; President, Barbara J. Goldsmith & Company LLC
The George Washington University Law School
Dayna Bowen Matthew, J.D., Ph. D., Dean and Harold H. Greene Professor of Law, The George Washington University Law School
9:15 AM
AGENDA REVIEW AND DESIRED OUTCOMES
Barbara J. Goldsmith
9:30 AM
Opening address: big picture issues influencing our path forward
In late 2020, our speaker identified three key drivers of change: the clear connection between our environment and safety; the evolution of traditional “CSR” reporting into corporate action for good; and the need to incorporate time into environmental policy, climate change and other issues. We will hear an update on these drivers real time and how it can instruct where we go from here in addressing the complex of environmental, energy and societal objectives and needs we continue to face.
Roger Martella, Vice President, Chief Sustainability Officer, GE
10:00 AM
keynote address
Introduction: Lisa Palmer, National Geographic Visiting Professor of Science Communication, The George Washington University School of Media and Public Affairs
Juliet Eilperin, Pulitzer Prize-Winning Journalist, Book Author, Deputy Climate and Environment Editor, The Washington Post
10:45 AM
PLENARY session: Update on Issues and Challenges related to the Symposium Theme
Speakers will examine individually, and collectively, a suite of issues pertinent to our deliberations and how private work and public/private partnerships are teeing up fresh approaches and solutions. Among them: shifts in regulatory and judicial practices, corporate accountability and reporting, “forever chemicals”, climate change effects and energy balance – all of which affect stewardship of natural resources.
Moderator: H. Jordan Diamond, President, Environmental Law Institute
Speakers:
John Cruden, J.D., Principal, Beveridge & Diamond PC; Former Assistant Attorney General, Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD), US Department of Justice
Sally Fisk, J.D., Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, Chief Counsel - Environmental & Sustainability Law, Pfizer, Inc.
Nathaniel “Nat” Keohane, Ph.D., President, Center for Climate and Energy Solutions
Jeff Rose, Vice President, Government Relations and Public Policy, Battelle
12:15 PM
Break for lunch
1:00 PM
Lunch session speakers
Sponsored by GHD
Introduction: Randall S. Abate, J.D., Assistant Dean for Environmental Law Studies, The George Washington University Law School
Scott Lundgren, Director, Office of Response and Restoration, US Department of Commerce, National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on behalf of Richard W. Spinrad, Ph.D., Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere & NOAA Administrator, US Department of Commerce
Heidi King, Research Professor, The George Washington University Regulatory Studies Center
2:00 PM
expert panel: closer Coordination of REmediation and Restoration – a possible model
A proposed Best Practice Framework to facilitate coordination of remediation and natural resource restoration at sites nationwide, where appropriate, will be presented and discussed. Following review of the Framework, a panel of multi-stakeholder experts will respond to a series of specific questions aimed at identifying how the framework could be used more broadly in actual practice.
Moderator: Jean Martin, J.D., Senior Counsel, Litigation & Regulatory, BP
Presentation of the Framework: Steve Jones, Ph.D., Senior Ecologist, GHD (retired)
Panelists:
Cas Bridge, Project Manager, Environmental, Chevron
David Charters, Ph.D., Environmental Response Team, Office of Superfund Remediation and Technology Innovation, US Environmental Protection Agency
Jeff Martin, J.D., Partner, Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP
Tony Penn, Chief, Assessment and Restoration Division, US Department of Commerce, National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Rebecca Stevens, Restoration Coordinator/Program Manager, Hazardous Waste Management Program, Coeur d'Alene Tribe
3:30 PM
break
3:45 PM
expert panel: considering pfas issues in the natural resource damages context – a possible model
A proposed Best Practice Framework to evaluate PFAS issues in the context of natural resource damage assessments undertaken at sites nationwide will be presented and discussed. Following review of the Framework, a panel of multi-stakeholder experts will respond to a series of specific questions aimed at identifying how the framework could be used more broadly in actual practice.
Moderator: Lana Rowenko, J.D., Kelley Drye & Warren LLP
Presentation of the Framework: Kristin Robrock, Ph.D., Managing Engineer, Exponent
Panelists:
Kegan Brown, J.D., Partner, Latham & Watkins, LLP
Karolien Debusschere, Ph.D., Deputy Coordinator, Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinator’s Office, Department of Public Safety & Corrections, Public Safety Services; Chair, States NRD Alliance
William H. Desvousges, Ph.D., President and Owner, W.H. Desvousges & Associates
J. Barton Seitz, J.D., Senior Counsel, Baker Botts, LLP with input from colleague Alexandra Dapolito Dunn, Partner, Baker Botts, LLP
5:15 PM
Day 1 Summary/day 2 preview
Randall S. Abate, J.D. and Barbara J. Goldsmith
5:30 PM
adjourn
Day 2: Friday, September 16, 2022
9:00 AM
welcome
Ad-Hoc Industry Natural Resource Management Group
Barbara J. Goldsmith, Executive Director, Ad-Hoc Industry Natural Resource Management Group; President, Barbara J. Goldsmith & Company LLC
The George Washington University
Jonathan P. Deason, Ph.D., P.E., Co-Director, Environmental and Energy Management Institute; Lead Professor, Environmental and Energy Management Program, The George Washington University
9:15 AM
expert panel: evaluating climate change and natural resource damages – a possible model
A proposed Best Practice Framework to consider climate change and extreme whether effects in the context of natural resource damage assessments undertaken at sites nationwide will be presented and discussed. Following review of the Framework, a panel of multi-stakeholder experts will respond to a series of specific questions aimed at identifying how the framework could be used more broadly in actual practice.
Moderator: Emily Sanford Fisher, General Counsel, Corporate Secretary, and Senior Vice President, Clean Energy, Edison Electric Institute
Presentation of the Framework: Paul Boehm, Ph.D., Principal Scientist, Exponent
Panelists:
Darrin Gambelin, J.D., Partner, Downey Brand LLP
Emily Joseph, Director, Office of Restoration and Damage Assessment, US Department of the Interior
Theodore Tomasi, Ph.D., Managing Principal, Integral Consulting Inc.
Robert Twilley, Ph.D., Chairman of the Board & Interim CSS Executive Director, Professor, LSU College of the Coast & Environment
11:00 AM
path forward on the best practice frameworks
This segment will briefly summarize actions suggested during the three expert panels related to possible multi-stakeholder use of the Frameworks in actual practice.
Barbara J. Goldsmith
Timothy Hoelzle, Deputy Director, Office of Restoration and Damage Assessment, US Department of the Interior
11:30 AM
2022 symposium key observations and follow up actions
This segment will look back at the broader issues discussed during the Symposium program to identify key points and areas for action.
Barbara J. Goldsmith
Jason Kinnell, Principal Economist and Founding Partner, Veritas Economic Consulting