The purpose of this Section shall be to bring together such members of the New York State Bar Association as are interested in environmental, land use, energy, health and safety and related issues and topics, to further the education of the legal community, the public and governmental and elected officials on legal, administrative and policy matters relating to such issues, to facilitate the making of public policy, and to provide networking opportunities between and among attorneys in private practice, government, corporations and consulting firms.
Contact the Environmental & Energy Law Section Liaison
To learn more about this Section, please contact Amy Jasiewicz
[email protected]
(518) 487-5675
Nicholas Ward-Willis
Nicholas Ward-Willis of White Plains is the new chair of the Environmental and Energy Law Section.
Ward-Willis is a member of Keane and Beane. He represents businesses, developers, individuals, property managers and public bodies in a variety of land use, real estate and environmental issues, ranging from commercial and real estate transactions to state and federal environmental litigation.
A 26-year member of the State Bar, Ward-Willis most recently served as vice-chair of the Environmental and Energy Law Section. He also is a member of the Local and State Government Law and Real Property Law Sections.
Ward-Willis graduated from the University of Albany and earned his law degree from Pace University School of Law, cum laude.
Online Community
The New York Environmental Lawyer
The New York Environmental Lawyer features peer-written substantive articles relating to the practice of environmental law on various topics including climate change, brownfields, pollution, air quality, wetlands, and superfund. Regular columns include recent administrative and judicial cases, ethics issues, EPA and DEC updates, and Section news. Edited by Miriam E. Villani, Esq., (Editor-in-Chief), Alicia G. Artessa, Esq. (Issue Editor), Prof. Keith Hirokawa (Issue Editor), and Aaron Gershonowitz, Esq. (Issue Editor), The New York Environmental Lawyer is published by the Environmental & Energy Law Section and distributed to Section Members free of charge.
The New York Environmental Lawyer is published as a benefit for members of the Environmental & Energy Law Section and is copyrighted by the New York State Bar Association. The copying, reselling, duplication, transferring, reproducing, reusing, retaining, or reprinting of this publication is strictly prohibited without permission. © New York State Bar Association. All rights reserved. ISSN 1088-9752 (print) ISSN 1933-8538 (online)
To receive your issue of The New York Environmental Lawyer in an electronic format only, send an email to NYSBA’s Member Resource Center at [email protected].
The New York Environmental Lawyer encourages article submissions on topics of interest to members of the Section. Writing an article for a NYSBA Section publication is a great way to get your name out to the legal community and advertise your knowledge. Our authors are respected state-wide for their legal expertise in such areas as climate change, brownfields, pollution, air quality, wetlands, and superfund.
MCLE credit may also be earned for legal-based writing directed to an attorney audience upon application to the CLE Board. NYSBA Guidelines for Obtaining MCLE Credit for Writing as well as a Publication Credit Application are available.
If you have written an article and would like to have it considered for publication in The New York Environmental Lawyer, please send it in electronic document format (ie., WORD format) (PDFs are NOT accepted), along with biographical information to any of the Editors:
Miriam E. Villani
[email protected]
Alicia G. Artessa
[email protected]
Prof. Keith Hirokawa
[email protected]
Aaron Gershonowitz
[email protected]
Section Business
- 2020 Guidelines for Program, Speaker, Diversity and Reimbursement (January 30, 2020)
- Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion (September 22, 2019)
- Taking Action on Climate Change in New York: 2017 Update Report (June 18, 2017)
- Green Guidelines
- Policy and Procedures for Section Comments on Legislation, Regulations and Guidance Documents
- Speaker Guidelines (Updated 10/23/2011)
- Speaker Selection Guidelines (New 5/12/2017)
- CLE Program Co-Sponsorship Memo (1/25/11)
- Former Section Chairs (Updated June 2020)
- Section Officers Committee Liaison Responsibilities
- Award Committee Guidelines
- House of Delegates Report
- Committee Chair Manual (2018)
Legislative/Regulatory Policy Submissions, Reports and Letters
- Memorandum Regarding Adverse Impact of Proposed Prevailing Wage Legislation on New York State Brownfield Cleanup Program – June -2019
- Memorandum Regarding Proposed Brownfield Cleanup Program Tax Credit – March 2018
- Comments in the NYS DEC Definition of “Underutilized” April 2016
- Memorandum Regarding Proposed Definition of “Underutilized” of the Brownfield Cleanup Program – May 2015
- Testimony by Environmental & Energy Law Section on NYSDEC Proposed Definition of “Underutilized” Re: 2015 BCP Amendments
- Environmental Memo 2 – Comments on Update to the Regulations Implementing the Procedural Provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act
- Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion (September 22, 2019)
- NYSBA Letter to President Trump on Paris Agreement
- Report and Recommendations Concerning The Conservation Article in the State Constitution – August, 2016
- Comments on DEC’s Proposed Definition of “Underutilized” in Connection with BCP– April 2016
- NYSDEC Proposed Changes to SEQR– March 3, 2016
- Memorandum re NYS Brownfield Cleanup Program– January 8, 2015
- Memorandum in Support of Navigation Law Bill – March 2012
- Memorandum in Support of Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Reform Bill – May 23, 2011
- Comments on Proposed EAF Changes – April 26, 2011
- Memorandum re Budget Cuts – Staffing at NYS DEC – November 2010
- Comments on Marcellus Shale DSGEIS – December 2009
- Comments on DER-30 – December 2009
- Memorandum in Support of the Bottle Bill– April 2009
- Bottle Bill Memorandum – June 2007
- Wetlands Bill Memorandum – May 2007
- Brownfields Recommendations for Advisory Committee – December 2006
- Proposed Revisions to Draft Brownfield Cleanup Program Guide – November 2004
Environmental & Energy Law Section Committee
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Adirondacks, Catskills, Forest Preserve Committee
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Agriculture And Rural Issues Committee
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Brownfields Task Force
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CLE & Ethics Committee (Environmental & Energy Law)
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Coastal And Wetland Resources Committee
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Corporate Counsel Committee (Environmental & Energy Law)
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Diversity & Inclusion Committee (Environmental & Energy Law)
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Energy Committee
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Enforcement & Compliance Committee (Environmental & Energy Law)
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Environmental Business Transactions Committee
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Environmental Impact Assessment Committee
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Environmental Insurance Committee
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Environmental Justice Committee
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Executive Committee (Environmental & Energy Law)
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Future Of Federal Environmental Policy Task Force
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Global Climate Change Committee
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Hazardous Waste/Site Remediation Committee
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Land Use Committee
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Legislation Committee (Environmental & Energy Law)
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Membership Committee (Environmental & Energy Law)
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Mining And Oil & Gas Exploration Committee
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Pesticides Committee
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Petroleum Spills Committee
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Social Media And Electronic Communications Committee
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Solid Waste Committee
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Toxic Torts Committee
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Utility Siting And Regulation Committee
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Water Quality Committee
Awards
To honor distinguished service to the protection of the environment.
To recognize a member of the Environmental Law Section for outstanding contribution to the Section’s work and activities.
This fellowship program is designed to encourage diverse law students to enter the field of environmental law.
This annual competition is designed to challenge law students to analyze the environmental issues confronting us today.
Brownfields Task Force
- Alaskan VCA Decision and Order (July 2016)
- 2015 BCP Amendments
- Draft Voluntary Cleanup Program Guide (2002)
External Resources
Program Archive
Program Materials & Webinars
- COVID-19’S Impact on Environmental & Energy Law Practice Dialogue with the USEPA, NYSDEC and NYCDCP-April 16, 2020
- 2020 Annual Meeting Agency Update Jan 30, 2020
- 2017 8th Annual Oil spill Symposium – June 7, 2017
- 2017 Annual Meeting – January 27, 2017
- 2016 Fall Meeting – October 14-16
- 2016 Annual Meeting Program – January 29, 2016
- 2015 Fall Meeting – October 2-4, 2015
- 2015 Legislative Forum – May 6, 2016
Program Archive
COVID 19’s Impact on Environmental & Energy Law Practice: A Dialogue – April 16, 2020
Environmental and Energy Law Section Legislative Forum – May 13, 2020
Averting the “Next” Pandemic in New York – May 21, 2020
Environmental and Energy Lawyers: A Law Student’s Guide to What We Do – September 30, 2020
Environmental & Energy Law Section Meet & Greet the Section Officers and Members – December 16, 2020
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