Panelist

Kathy Beckett

Member
Steptoe & Johnson PLLC

Kathy Beckett Twenty-five years of experience practicing environmental, regulatory, and natural resources law have enabled Kathy Beckett to develop a national reputation for her ability to influence environmental policies on behalf of her clients. She has been instrumental in the development of national and state regulatory programs and the drafting of environmental legislation. Ms. Beckett is active in many industry trade groups and serves on the Board of Directors of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and is a past chair of the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce Environmental Committee. She has also served in a leadership capacity with the American Bar Association Section of Environment, Energy and Resources. Realizing that practicing environmental law is more than civil litigation, Ms. Beckett also has experience in the Homeland Security and Emergency Response sectors.

Armando F. Benincasa

Member
Steptoe & Johnson PLLC

Armando Benincasa concentrates his practice in the areas of energy law, environmental law, environmental litigation, administrative law, government affairs, and lobbying. His practice consists of cases involving permitting and regulatory requirements for natural resources, including coal, oil, and gas, solid waste, water resources, underground storage tanks, voluntary remediation, and the drafting of rules and statutes related to the environment. He has extensive experience in governmental matters, as well as in representing energy companies before state agencies and the West Virginia Legislature.

Steve Clemmer

Director of Energy Research & Analysis
Climate and Energy Program
Union of Concerned Scientists

Steve ClemmerAs director of energy research for the Union of Concerned Scientists’ Climate and Energy program, Steve Clemmer conducts research on the economic and environmental benefits of implementing renewable energy technologies and policies at the state and national levels. He also directs UCS research on coal, natural gas, and nuclear power, and on solutions to reduce carbon emissions and water use in the electricity sector. He also served on the steering committee of the National Wind Coordinating Collaborative.

Before joining UCS, Mr. Clemmer was the energy policy coordinator for the Wisconsin Energy Office.

Mr. Clemmer holds an M.S. in energy analysis and policy from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a B.A. in political science and history from Gustavus Adolphus College in Minnesota.

Mr. Clemmer has written numerous reports and journal articles on the economic and environmental benefits of increasing renewable energy and energy efficiency.

Mr. Clemmer has been quoted widely, including by the Associated Press, Chicago Tribune, The Guardian, Miami Herald, The New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post. He has also appeared as a guest on numerous radio and television programs.

Kim Diana Connolly

Professor of Law
SUNY Buffalo Law School

Kim Diana Connolly’s areas of scholarly interest include natural resources and environmental law, particularly wetlands law and policy and other Clean Water Act matters. Her scholarly works have appeared in Environmental Law Reporter, Georgetown International Environmental Law Review, Catholic University Law Review, Wyoming Law Journal, Washington University Journal of Law and Policy, Vermont Journal of Environmental Law and Southeastern Environmental Law Journal. Connolly co-edited the book ABA Wetlands Law and Policy: Understanding Section 404 (American Bar Association, 2005) and has had chapters about wetlands law in other books. She is currently editing a book on wetlands law entitled Beyond Jurisdiction: Essential Wetlands Law and Policy Questions for Our Time and co-editing a book entitled The Big Thaw: Policy, Governance and Climate Change in the Circumpolar North.

Connolly also is committed to clinical legal education. She served as president of the national Clinical Legal Education Association in 2009 and served on CLEA’s Executive Committee. Professor Connolly runs the national environmental clinicians listserv. She has published short articles in this area, and has been directing SUNY Buffalo Law’s Clinical Legal Education Program since 2010. She also directs the Environmental Law and Policy Clinic. In addition, Professor Connolly recently founded and directs the SUNY Buffalo Animal Law Pro Bono Project.

Before joining the law faculty at SUNY Buffalo, Connolly taught at the University of South Carolina School of Law, where she was associated faculty at the School of the Environment. Prior to her teaching career, she practiced law with a number of Washington, D.C., law firms, most recently Hunton and Williams. She received her J.D., magna cum laude, from Georgetown University Law Center and her LL.M. with highest honors from George Washington University Law School. Connolly did her undergraduate work in chemistry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and served as a VISTA volunteer working on water access and waste disposal in low-income communities between college and law school.

Joseph W. Dellapenna

Professor of Law
Villanova University School of Law

Joseph W. DellapennaProfessor Dellapenna’s scholarly interests focus on water management and on international and comparative law. His books include: Waters and Water Rights (2013) (co-author); The Evolution of the Law and Politics of Water (2009) (editor and contributor); Dispelling the Myths of Abortion History (2006); Interstate Water Allocation in Alabama, Florida, and Georgia: New Issues, New Methods, New Models (2006) (co-author); Suing Foreign Governments and Their Corporations (2nd ed. 2002; 1st ed. 1988); Water Rights in the Eastern United States (1998) (co-author); Natural Resources Law Manual (1997) (co-author); and Abortion and the Constitution (1987) (co-author); and Water in the Middle East: Conflict or Coopation (1984) (co-author). Waters and Water Rights is the standard reference work on water law in the United States. Professor Dellapenna also has written many scholarly articles on a broad range of constitutional, environmental and international subjects, and he has made public presentations at numerous national and international meetings.

Professor Dellapenna has taught and held positions at several universities both here and abroad. He is the only person ever to be a Fulbright Senior Lecturer in Law in both the People’s Republic of China (at Jilin University, 1987-88) and the Republic of China (Taiwan) (at National Chengchi University, 1978-79). He was also a Fulbright Senior Researcher in Law at the Directory-General of Natural Resources, Republic of Portugal (1990). Professor Dellapenna has lectured widely at other foreign universities, and was previously a member of the faculty at Willamette University College of Law and at the University of Cincinnati College of Law. He has been a member of the faculty at Villanova University since 1976.

Professor Dellapenna was the Rapporteur for the Water Resources Committee of the International Law Association and led the drafting of the Berlin Rules on Water Resources (2004) to replace the Helsinki Rules on the Uses of International Rivers. He has been an active member since 1992 of the Task Committee of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) for drafting two Model Water Codes and chaired the working group that drafted the Regulated Riparian Model Water Code. He ascended in 1995 to the chair of the Water Regulatory Standards Committee of ASCE to direct completion of two Model Water Codes and the follow up standards, and also supervised the working group that drafted the Standard Guidelines on Shared Use of Transboundary Waters. He has also represented persons and groups in water litigation and consulted with governmental and private bodies on drafting water laws and regulations.

Professor Dellapenna is also an expert on transitional litigation in the United States, and has worked as attorney, consultant, and expert witness in many such cases. His book, Suing Foreign Governments and Their Corporations has been described by one book reviewer as the “bible” for litigation under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act of 1976. The book was cited by both Justice Souter (writing for the majority) and Justice Stevens (writing in dissent) in Saudi Arabia v. Nelson, 507 U.S. 349 (1993) as authoritative for the inter­pretation of the Act. A second edition of this book was published in 2002. In addition, he has chaired the Committee on International Litigation from 1993-1995, the Committee on Chinese Law from 1995-1999, and the Committee on International Environmental Law (2006-2009), all under the aegis of the Section of International Law and Practice of the American Bar Association. He has also been the chair of the Law of the Pacific Region Interest Group of the American Society of International Law (1993-2002).

Professor Dellapenna has served as consultant to numerous private parties and foreign governments, including to the World Bank, the Water Sector of the National Assessment of the Potential Consequences of Climate Variability and Change of the United States Government, to the Water Commission of the World Humanities Action Trust, Joint Management of Shared Aquifers Project of the Palestine Consultancy Group and of the Harry S. Truman Research Institute for the Advancement of Peace of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the Amar Foundation, the Associates for Middle East Research, Inc., the People’s Republic of China, the Republic of China. Among the honors he has received, he is an elected member of the American Law Institute and the American Bar Foundation.

Joshua P. Fershee

Professor of Law
West Virginia University College of Law

Joshua FersheeProfessor Joshua Fershee joined the faculty at West Virginia University College of Law in fall 2012. His research and scholarship focus primarily on energy law and corporate law issues. Recent articles have discussed renewable energy programs in the transportation and electricity sectors, climate policy, geothermal energy, and corporate governance. His courses include Business Organizations, Energy Law & Policy, and The Energy Business: Law & Strategy. He was also a co-editor of the Business Law Prof Blog and a contributor to the Agricultural Law Blog.

Professor Fershee received his J.D. magna cum laude from Tulane Law School, where he was elected Order of the Coif and editor-in-chief of the Tulane Law Review. He is also a graduate of Michigan State University, where he received a B.A. in Social Science, with a focus on economics, psychology, and sociology. Before joining WVU, Professor Fershee served as Associate Professor of Law and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs & Research at the University of North Dakota School of Law. Prior to that, he served as a visiting assistant professor of law at Penn State University’s Dickinson School of Law in State College, PA.

Professor Fershee began his legal career with Davis Polk & Wardwell, New York, NY, where he represented clients in corporate and litigation matters including mergers and acquisitions, derivatives transactions, and securities regulation. He then joined the energy practice group at Hogan & Hartson, LLP, Washington, D.C., where he represented energy clients in matters before state and federal regulators, analyzed state and federal legislation, and advised clients on mergers and acquisitions, climate change issues, and renewable portfolio standards.

Before his legal career, Professor Fershee worked for a Washington, D.C.-based trade association comprised of video and computer game companies where he coordinated the media relations program and conducted intellectual property and anti-piracy training sessions for law enforcement officials (e.g., U.S. Customs and FBI), media, and other key audiences. He then served as a public relations professional in the entertainment technology industry specializing in strategic planning, brand management, and crisis communications with two Los Angeles public relations agencies.

Jan Goldman-Carter

Wetlands and Water Resources Counsel
National Wildlife Federation
National Advocacy Center

Jan Goldman-CarterJan Goldman-Carter served as NWF Wetlands and Water Resources Counsel from 1987-1991 and returned in 2006 to manage the NWF campaign to restore Clean Water Act protections.

As an environmental lawyer, she’s worked on wetlands issues across the country and in 1993 received the Environmental Protection Agency-Environmental Law Institute National Wetlands Award. Jan also served as a wetlands specialist with the EPA, Corps of Engineers, and Fish and Wildlife Service.

In her spare time she enjoys canoeing, kayaking, birding and otherwise being in, on, and near the water.

John M.S. King

Environmental Resources Analyst
Office of Environmental Advocate
West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection

John M. S. KingJohn M.S. King is an Environmental Resource Analyst with West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection’s (WVDEP) Office of Environmental Advocate. In 2010, WVDEP created two new positions within the advocate office due to an increased public interest and awareness of environmental issues. John serves the northern region of the state and provides special assistance to communities and individuals who need help resolving environmental issues or finding pertinent information. The advocate office touches all aspects of WVDEP and must stay attuned to regulatory changes and current events. In order to track such a wide array of important issues, John is developing an innovative visual aid for enhanced communication that utilizes Google mapping software and crowdsourcing techniques. Using free online mapping tools, John helps stakeholders visualize “what & where,” which ultimately contributes to a greater level of understanding and stakeholder collaboration. John graduated from Marshall University in 2002 with a B.A. in Criminal Justice and earned a M.S. in Physical Science in 2007. While working towards his graduate degree, he was accepted into the Governor’s Internship Program and began working with WVDEP’s Watershed Assessment Branch in 2004. He officially joined WVDEP in 2006 as an Environmental Resource Specialist in the Public Information Office with the Youth Environmental Program. In 2008 he transferred to the Environmental Enforcement section within the Division of Water and Waste Management. As an Environmental Inspector, John helped citizens resolve complaints, provided permittees with compliance assistance and enforced NPDES permit terms and conditions in Wood and Wirt Counties. John is also a member of WVDEP’s Dive Team and is proficient in underwater sampling, monitoring, and investigations. He is a founding member of the Morris Creek Watershed Association (MCWA) located in the Upper Kanawha Valley and credits the organization’s volunteer efforts as sole inspiration for choosing to work in the environmental field. John enjoys spending time with his beautiful wife Jennifer and amazing 19 month old daughter Caroline.

Amy Mall

Senior Policy Analyst, Land &
Wildlife Program Natural Resources Defense Council


Amy MallAmy Mall is an NRDC senior policy analyst. Her expertise is in policies that protect natural resources and the environment from irresponsible industrial development.

Amy’s work currently focuses on protecting the environment, sensitive lands, and communities from harmful oil and gas exploration and production operations. Previously she worked to conserve national forest wildlands and wildlife habitat. Before joining NRDC’s land and wildlife program in 2001, Amy worked in the private sector and in county, state, and federal government, including the White House National Economic Council and the U.S. Senate. Her publications include Drilling Down: Protecting Western Communities from the Health and Environmental Effects of Oil and Gas Production and Safe at Home: Making the Federal Fire Safety Budget Work for Communities. She is a graduate of Cornell and Harvard Universities, with a master’s degree in public policy.

James R. May

Professor of Law and Co-Director of the Environmental Law Center Widener University School of Law

Phillip Musegass

Legal Director
Potomac Riverkeeper Network

Prior to joining Potomac Riverkeeper Network, Phillip was the Hudson River Program Director at Riverkeeper in New York for nearly ten years, leading efforts to reduce sewage pollution, clean up historic industrial sites and bring enforcement actions to protect the Hudson River. During his tenure as Director, Hudson Riverkeeper brought successful actions against dozens of polluters, including ExxonMobil for its historic Greenpoint oil spill and numerous concrete companies, scrapyards and other waterfront sites whose operations violated the Clean Water Act. Phillip also worked to ensure passage of a New York state law requiring public notification of sewage discharges, and served as a citizen advisor on two task forces convened by Mayor Bloomberg to address climate resiliency challenges in New York City in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.

Phillip received a J.D. with honors from Pace University School of Law, and a B.A. (magna cum laude) in Geography from the University of Washington.

Kristy A. Niehaus Bulleit

Partner
Hunton & Williams LLP

Kristy A. Niehaus BulleitKristy’s practice focuses on national and state level environmental law issues, with particular emphasis on administrative, legislative, enforcement defense and counseling matters under the Clean Water Act (CWA). She is admitted to the United States Supreme Court and the Unites States Court of Appeals for the Second, Fourth, Sixth and Ninth Circuits, and District of Columbia.

Alison Peck

Professor of Law
WVU College of Law

Alison PeckAlison Peck teaches and writes in the area of sustainable development, including environmental and trade law, with special focus on agriculture and food law. Professor Peck practiced international arbitration and commercial litigation with Boies, Schiller & Flexner LLP in Washington, D.C. She clerked for Judge Jon O. Newman of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and Judge G. Federico Mancini of the Court of Justice for the European Communities. She received a J.D. from Yale Law School and an LL.M. in Agricultural Law from the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville.

Sujoy Roy, PH.D.

Principal Engineer
Research & Development
Tetra Tech, Inc.

Sujoy Roy, PH.D.Dr. Sujoy B. Roy is a Director of Tetra Tech Inc., located in Lafayette, CA. He holds a B. Tech. in Civil Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi, India, and an M.S. and Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University. Dr. Roy is an environmental engineer with extensive experience studying water quality and water resources in applied research and regulatory contexts. Dr. Roy’s particular areas of interest include the modeling and development of management plans to address water quantity and quality concerns for drinking water source protection and for addressing ecological impacts. In most instances, his work is motivated by current impairment, such as the development of total maximum daily loads or anticipation of future growth and climate change. Dr. Roy’s recent studies have included the evaluation of water withdrawal sustainability across the U.S. under climate change scenarios at national and regional scales, evaluating sea level rise effects on salt water intrusion in the California Delta, and operations modeling of water supply systems under climate change scenarios. He served on National Academy of Sciences panels on Missouri River Basin restoration and on Clean Water Act Implementation across the Mississippi Basin. Dr. Roy serves as a member of the EPA Science Advisory Board.

John R. Weinberger

Public Policy Consultant

John R. WeinbergerJohn Weinberger is an attorney and policy analyst with expertise in national and international energy policy and legislative advocacy. He has held has held senior policy positions in the U.S. Senate, Illinois General Assembly and the Chicago Board of Education. In addition to his government and legal background, John recently completed a master’s degree in public policy at the University of Chicago with a concentration on energy policy (MPP), and a master’s degree in international energy and environmental policy (MIPP) from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.

Robert Wood

Director of the Engineering and Analysis Division
U.S. EPA’s Office of Water

Rob Wood is Director of the Engineering and Analysis Division in U.S. EPA’s Office of Water where he is responsible for the review and revision of national effluent limitations guidelines and standards under the Clean Water Act. He was appointed to this position in November 2012. Previously, Rob served as acting deputy director of EPA’s Chesapeake Bay Program Office where he helped to establish the landmark TMDL for the Chesapeake Bay; acting deputy director of the Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds; and deputy director of EPA’s Wetlands Division. Rob received a Master’s Degree in Urban and Environmental Planning from the University of Virginia in 1987 and Bachelor’s Degree with majors in Economics and Geography from Mary Washington College in 1984.

In his 28-year career at EPA Mr. Wood has held numerous management positions including six years as chief of the State/Regional Branch in the wastewater permitting program where he was in charge of the water quality-based permitting, permit issuance process, permit writer training, and data management programs. He has been instrumental in developing EPA technical guidance, policy and regulations including EPA’s regulations on water quality-based permitting, watershed planning, water quality standards, and the Water Quality Guidance for the Great Lakes System

Paul F. Ziemkiewicz, PH.D.

Director
West Virginia Water Research Institute

Paul F. ZiemkiewiczPaul Ziemkiewicz is the Director of the West Virginia Water Research Institute (WVWRI). The WVWRI has a staff of thirteen and works with the faculty of WVU and other universities to manage programs that range from local, regional, national, to international in scope. Major programs include mine drainage, watershed management, biofuels, industrial site restoration and treatment of drilling brines.

Dr. Ziemkiewicz’s responsibilities focus on addressing high priority environmental issues by developing research opportunities, assembling and managing research teams and responding to the needs of sponsors. In addition to his research roles, Dr. Ziemkiewicz serves on both state and federal policy advisory committees focusing on energy and water. Dr. Ziemkiewicz is a member of the West Virginia Acid Mine Drainage Task Force, the Eastern Mine Drainage Federal Consortium, the West Virginia Special Reclamation Trust Fund Advisory Council and the Ohio River Basin Water Availability and Management Work Group.

Dr. Ziemkiewicz received the E.M. Watkin Award in 1985 for Outstanding Contribution to the Betterment of Land Reclamation in Canada, presented by the Canadian Reclamation Association. In 2005 he received the Environmental Conservation Distinguished Service Award, presented by the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration.

He holds a Bachelor’s in Biology and a Master’s in Range Ecology from Utah State University, and Doctorate in Forest Ecology from the University of British Columbia.

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