04/06/2006

Presented by: Environmental Law Section

Program Information:
The theme of the 20th Annual Environmental Law Super Symposium is "Clean Air and Water with Room to Grow: Meeting the Environmental Challenges to Southern California's Future Development."

As in the past, the Symposium will provide a vital update of the many developments occurring in the field of environmental law. The presentations will cover the significant environmental challenges involved in planning for Southern California's future development.

A limited number of scholarships are available for public interest and government attorneys and law students. To request an application, please send an e-mail message to Gail Coleman, Environmental Law Section Administrator, at: gcoleman@lacba.org.

PROGRAM SCHEDULE

Registration and Breakfast 8:00 - 8:30 a.m.

Welcome and Introductions 8:30 - 8:45 a.m.

Gary A. Meyer, Chair
Parker, Milliken, Clark, O'Hara & Samuelian

Vincent M. Gonzales, Super Symposium Chair
Sempra Energy

Featured Keynote Address 8:45 - 9:30 a.m.

S. David Freeman, President
Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners

Plenary Session 9:30 - 10:45 a.m.

To Grow or Not to Grow: Is the Sky the Limit for LAX?

Beth Dorris--Moderator
Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP

Jan Chatten-Brown
Chatten-Brown & Carstens

James A. Geocaris
Law Offices of James A. Geocaris

Mayor Kelly McDowell
City of El Segundo

Raul Salinas
Adorno Yoss Alvarado & Smith, APC

One of the busiest airports in the world, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) has not undergone any major construction or expansion since the 1984 Olympics. The City of Los Angeles Department of Airports prepared and adopted the LAX Master Plan which inevitably spawned litigation focusing on the environmental impacts of such expansion. This litigation has now been resolved. How does the settlement reflect the balance of interests at issue in the litigation and what will be the effect of the litigation and settlement on the future growth of LAX, the other airports in the region, and the rest of Southern California?

Break 10:45 - 11:00 a.m.

Break-Out Session 1A 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Water, Water, Everywhere, But Is There Enough?

Peter Duchesneau--Moderator
Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP

Edward J. Casey
Weston, Benshoof, Rochefort, Rubalcava & MacCuish LLP

Peter M. MacLaggan
Poseidon Resources

Jeffrey Kightlinger
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California

Do water supply constraints impede new land development projects or do land use restrictions impede water supply projects? Will the CalFed case, pending before the California Supreme Court, ultimately lessen Southern California's appeal? This panel will address the legal wrangling concerning the water supply-land use relationship and the ramifications on the growth and welfare of Southern California.

OR - Break-Out Session 1B 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Are You Protected? Using Insurance When Responding to Environmental Administrative Actions and When Developing Brownfields

Martha Sharp--Moderator
Wood & Bender LLP

Michael Dow
Frenkle & Co., Inc.

Charles J. Malaret
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP

The California Supreme Court recently held that insurance coverage may be available under historical CGL umbrella and excess policies for environmental liabilities, and the court also carved out exceptions to the absolute pollution exclusion. The panel will also focus on current environmental insurance issues, the insurance industries' reaction to new developments, and insurance products available for environmental remediation and Brownfields development.

Luncheon and Speaker 12:00 - 1:30 p.m.

Maureen F. Gorsen
Director, Department of Toxic Substances Control

I am from the DTSC. How May I Help You?

Break-Out Session 2A 1:30 - 2:30 p.m.

When Worlds Collide: The Effect of Bankruptcy Upon Environmental Remediation Obligations

Sarah Morrison--Moderator
Office of the Attorney General, State of California

Richard W. Esterkin
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP

Lewis Maldonado
United States Environmental Protection Agency, Region IX

Margarita Padilla
Office of the Attorney General, State of California

This panel will explore issues relating to the impact of a bankruptcy filing by a party potentially responsible for the remediation of contaminated property, including (a) the impact of the automatic stay upon clean-up orders, litigation among potentially responsible parties and contribution agreements; (b) the assumption or rejection of contribution agreements as executory contracts; (c) filing proofs of claims; and (d) the discharge of environmental claims. The panel includes representatives of private parties and government regulators to provide a broad perspective to the manner in which the various constituencies in an environmental case view these issues.

OR - Break-Out Session 2B 1:30 - 2:30 p.m.

Who's Using the CHHSL? The Latest Tool in Cal-EPA's Toolbox

Viviana L. Heger--Moderator
Weston, Benshoof, Rochefort, Rubalcava & MacCuish LLP

Jennifer Hernandez
Holland & Knight LLP

Caren Trgovcich
Department of Toxic Substances Control

Evan Reeves
Center for Creative Land Recycling

The California Human Health Screening Levels - or CHHSLs - were developed in conjunction with the California Land Environmental Restoration and Reuse Act of 2001 as a tool to assist in the evaluation of contaminated sites for potential adverse threats to human health. State law prohibits all CHHSL screening numbers from being used as clean-up levels. The panel will discuss CHHSLs and address recent issues regarding their use in ongoing remediation sites.

Break 2:30 - 2:45 p.m.

Plenary Session 2:45 - 4:00 p.m.

LNG and the Future: Is Liquid Gas a Solid Option?

Malcom C. Weiss--Moderator
Jeffer, Mangels, Butler & Marmaro LLP

Alison J. Dettmer
Energy & Ocean Resouces, California Coastal Commission

Kenneth A. Ehrlich
Jeffer, Mangels, Butler & Marmaro LLP

David L. Huard
Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP

Bill Powers
Border Power Plant Working Group

What is LNG (liquefied natural gas) and what are its costs and benefits? Within the context of Southern California's energy and infrastructure needs, the panel will present an overview of proposed projects for California's coast and the potential legal challenges of the permitting and entitlement processes.

Closing Remarks 4:00 - 4:30 p.m.

Clean Technologies to Power Southern California's Goods Movement System: Options and Challenges

Kirk Marckwald
California Environmental Associates, Inc.

Speakers:
Janet Carl, Marsh U.S.A.
Edward J. Casey, Weston Benshoof Rochefort Rubalcava & MacCuish LLP
Jan Chatten-Brown, Chatten-Brown & Carstens
Alison J. Dettmer, Energy & Ocean Resources, California Coastal Commission
Beth S. Dorris, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP
Peter R. Duchesneau, Manatt Phelps & Phillips LLP
Kenneth A. Ehrlich, Jeffer, Mangels, Butler & Marmaro LLP
Richard W. Esterkin, Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP
S. David Freeman, Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners
James A. Geocaris, Law Offices of James A. Geocaris
Maureen F. Gorsen, CalEPA
Viviana L. Heger, Weston Benshoof Rochefort Rubalcava & MacCuish LLP
Jennifer Hernandez, Holland & Knight LLP
David L. Huard, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP
Jeffrey Kightlinger, Metropolitan Water District of So. Calif.
Peter MacLaggan, Poseidon Resources
Charles J. Malaret, Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP
Lewis Maldonado, United States EPA, Region 9
Kirk Marckwald, California Environmental Associates, Inc.
Harvey Morris, California Public Utilities Commission
Sarah E. Morrison, California Attorney General's Office
Deputy Attorney General Margarita Padilla, California Attorney General's Office
Bill Powers, Border Power Plant Working Group
Evan Reeves, Center for Creative Land Recycling
Martha Sharp, Wood & Bender LLP
Caren Trgovcich, Department of Toxic Substances Control
Malcolm C. Weiss, Jeffer, Mangels, Butler & Marmaro LLP

Location:
Los Angeles Marriott Downtown, 333 S. Figueroa St , Los Angeles

Parking:
Hotel Valet: $9.00

Times:
Registration: 8:00 - 8:30 a.m.
Meal/Reception: 8:00 a.m. breakfast; 12:00 p.m. lunch
Program: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

For questions about programs or program registration, send e-mail to our Member Service Department: msd@lacba.org

The Los Angeles County Bar Association is a State Bar of California MCLE approved provider. If this is a CLE event, the Los Angeles County Bar Association certifies that this activity has been approved for MCLE credit. CLE events will state the amount and type of credit offered in the calendar listing.