New EPA Guidance for Clean Water Act Jurisdiction

Best Practices to Obtain Permits for Projects Involving Wetlands

Recording of a 90-minute CLE teleconference with Q&A


Conducted on Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Recorded event now available


This seminar will examine the tests put forth in the Supreme Court's Rapanos ruling, the guidance provided by the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers and discuss best practices for assessing whether the CWA applies to a project and when a determination or challenge to jurisdiction is needed.

Description

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ACE) issued final guidance concerning the reach of the Clean Water Act (CWA). The guidance identifies the waters over which the agencies will assert jurisdiction.

The guidance seeks to clarify the agencies’ position after the Supreme Court’s 2006 Rapanos decision, which created confusion about the scope of federal jurisdiction over waterways. However, many think the guidelines' complexity will lead to inconsistent application and further confusion.

To avoid undue delays, increased costs or termination of a project, it is important for those involved in projects involving wetlands and their counsel to determine whether the CWA applies and when a jurisdictional determination or challenge is necessary.

Listen as our authoritative panel of environmental law attorneys examines the new EPA/ACE guidance, reviews Rapanos and its impact, and offers best practices for obtaining permits under the CWA and the EPA/ACE guidance.

Outline

  1. Rapanos and its impact
    1. Rapanos decision
    2. Lower court interpretation/application of Rapanos
    3. CWA jurisdiction after Rapanos
  2. EPA/Corps guidance
    1. Categories of water bodies
    2. Application
    3. Deviation from Rapanos
    4. Unanswered questions
  3. Best practices for permitting under the CWA

Benefits

The panel will review these and other key questions:

  • Where did Rapanos leave CWA permitting and does the newest EPA/Corps guidance deviate from Rapanos?
  • Is the guidance limited to Section 404 or will it impact jurisdictional determinations in administration of sections 303, 319, or 402?
  • What steps can those involved with a development project take in determining whether a CWA permit is needed?

Faculty

Joel M. Gross, Partner
Arnold & Porter, Washington, D.C.

He advises clients in litigation and non-litigation matters under federal and state environmental laws, with a special emphasis on compliance and enforcement issues. He advises clients on compliance strategies that can minimize the risk of enforcement actions. He served as Chief of the Environmental Enforcement Section at the U.S. Department of Justice.

Patrick W. Dennis, Partner
Gibson Dunn & Crutcher, Los Angeles

He chairs the firm's Environmental Litigation and Mass Tort Practice. He has practiced exclusively in the environmental law area for over 25 years and has spent a substantial portion of his practice representing clients in cases involving exposure to chemicals and has developed expertise in the science and legal standard of medical causation and exposure reconstruction, among other issues.

Aaron C. Courtney, Of Counsel
Stoel Rives, Portland, Ore.

He represents clients on compliance, permitting and litigation issues under federal and state clean up laws, the Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the National Environmental Policy Act. He also conducts environmental due diligence as part of business transactions and advises clients on sustainable business practices.

Ordering

Online CLE - Audio Recording

Includes audio streaming of full program plus handouts (available 24 hours after live seminar).

CLE: Pre-approved for participatory or non-traditional/alternate format credit in: CA, HI*, NY*, WV*. Pre-approved for self-study credit in: AK, AZ, MO, MT, TX*, VT, WA.
Upon request, also available in: CO, CT*, FL, GA, ID, KY, LA*, ME, NC, ND, NE, NH, NM, NV, OR*, SC, TN, UT, WI, WY. If you are applying for credit in one of these states, make sure to select those states when placing your order.
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Online CLE Audio $149.00
Available 24 hours after the live event

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Recorded Event

Includes full event recording plus handouts (available after live seminar).

CLE: Pre-approved for self-study credit in: AK, AZ, CA, CT, HI, MO, MT, NY, TX*, VT, WA, WV. Upon request, self-study credit is also available in: CO, FL, GA, ID, KY, ME, ND, NE, NH, NM, NV, OR, UT, WI, WY. If you are applying for self-study credit in one of these states, contact Strafford CLE at 1-800-926-7926 ext. 35 or CLE@straffordpub.com. (*Indicates that Strafford needs to process the CLE — see below to purchase this option.)

MP3 Download (Audio Only) $49.00
Available 24 hours after the live event

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CD $49.00 plus $9.45 S&H
Available ten business days after the live event

Program Materials

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Program Materials

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Customer Reviews

The program was very well organized and the speakers were prepared.

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Kell Alterman & Runstein

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Environmental Law Advisory Board

John J. Allen

Partner

Allen Matkins

Albert M. Cohen

Partner

Loeb & Loeb

Aaron Courtney

Of Counsel

Stoel Rives

Andrew N. Davis

Partner

Shipman & Goodwin

Paul E. Gutermann

Partner

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld

Brian D. Israel

Partner

Arnold & Porter

Thomas J. P. McHenry

Partner

Gibson Dunn & Crutcher

Reed D. Rubinstein

Partner

Dinsmore & Shohl

Jeffrey A. Smith

Partner

Cravath Swaine & Moore

E. Gail Suchman

Special Counsel

Stroock & Stroock & Lavan

Gregory D. Trimarche

Partner

Bryan Cave

or call 1-800-926-7926

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