Committees

Air

The Air Committee is composed of attorneys interested in federal, state, and local air pollution control laws and policy. Air laws and policies continue to evolve and raise significant issues for government, business, and citizen organizations in Michigan. The Air Committee meets several times a year to discuss emerging air-related topics, organize air-related programs, and conduct other types of outreach to Environmental Law Section members, including sponsoring site visits.

The Air Committee welcomes any Section member interested in air issues to participate in upcoming activities, which are typically publicized though the Section's e-mail distribution list, calendar, and social media outlets.

Chair: Kurt A. Kissling
Warner Norcross + Judd LLP
Ste 2700, 1318, 2000 Town Ctr
Southfield, MI 48075
(248) 784-5142
kkissling@wnj.com

Vice-Chair: Paul Michael Collins
Miller Canfield Paddock & Stone PLC
1 E Michigan Ave Ste 900
Lansing, MI 48933
(517) 483-4908
collinsp@millercanfield.com

Environmental Litigation and Administrative Practice

The Environmental Litigation Committee is responsible for legal issues that relate to environmental disputes in administrative, state, and federal jurisdictional forums. The Committee periodically arranges programs on these topics.

The Environmental Litigation Committee welcomes any Section member interested in the foregoing issues and maintains an e-mail list to notify members of meetings and events.

Chair: Kyle P. Konwinski
Varnum LLP

333 Bridge Street NW, Suite 1700

Grand Rapids, Michigan 49504 

kpkonwinski@varnumlaw.com

Vice Chair: Open
Michael L. Caldwell
Zausmer, August & Caldwell
31700 Middlebelt Rd, Ste 150
Farmington Hills, MI 48334
mcaldwell@zacfirm.com

Great Lakes and Inland Waters

The Great Lakes and Inland Waters Committee closely follows environmental developments regarding the Great Lakes and tracks developments in federal, state, and local regulation of discharges to and use of surface water and groundwater. The Committee periodically arranges programs in which experts in these areas discuss important developments. These programs also offer an opportunity for Section members to meet and benefit from learning about other attorneys' experiences in working on water-related matters.

The Great Lakes and Inland Waters Committee welcomes any Section member interested in the foregoing issues and maintains an e-mail list to notify members of meetings and events.

Co-Chair: Nicholas J. Schroeck
Director of Clinical Programs
Associate Professor of Law
University of Detroit Mercy School of Law
651 E. Jefferson Ave.
Detroit, MI 48226
(313) 596-0200
schroenj@udmercy.edu

Co-Chair: Ross A. Hammersley
Olson Bzdok & Howard PC
420 E Front St
Traverse City, MI 49686
(231) 946-0044
Ross@envlaw.com

Hazardous Substances and Brownfields

The Hazardous Substances Committee is responsible for legal issues that relate to the treatment, storage, disposal, and remediation of hazardous substances (including hazardous wastes) under both federal and state law, including CERCLA, RCRA subtitle C, and Parts 111 and 201 of NREPA. It is also responsible for the topics of liability under those statutes for injunctive relief, recovery of response costs and natural resource damages, related contribution actions, and associated claims for insurance coverage. Finally, it is responsible for the topic of managing transactions that are complicated by the real or potential presence of hazardous substances by environmental investigations, baseline environmental assessments and related mechanisms, environmental insurance, and incentives for brownfield re-development.

The Hazardous Substances Committee welcomes any Section member interested in the foregoing issues and maintains an e-mail list to notify members of meetings and events.

Co-Chair: James P. Enright
Enright Law Firm PLLC
2522 Woodmeadow Dr SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546
(616) 957-2984
enrightj@me.com

Co-Chair: Tammy Helminski
Barnes & Thornburg LLP
171 Monroe Avenue NW Ste 1000
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
(616) 742-3926
tammy.helminski@btlaw.com

Natural Resources, Energy & Sustainability

The Natural Resources, Energy & Sustainability Committee tracks developments in federal state and local laws and regulations that relate to issues concerning natural resources, including wetlands, oil and gas, mining, forestry, and fisheries. The Committee periodically arranges programs on these topics.

Chair: Susan J. Sadler
Dawda Mann Mulcahy & Sadler PLC
39533 Woodward Ave Ste 200
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304
(248) 642-8685
ssadler@dmms.com

Vice-Chair: Timothy J. Lundgren
Varnum LLP
333 Bridge St NW
PO Box 352
Grand Rapids, MI 49501
(616) 336-6750
tjlundgren@varnumlaw.com

    Program

    The Program Committee plans educational programs for the benefit of section members. The committee meets monthly by phone for about an hour to discuss the needs and interests of the members. The programs are designed to provide members with information on important new developments and opportunities for socializing and networking with other section members.

    The length and content of programs vary widely, from informal lunch roundtables covering one topic to multiple day seminars that cover numerous topics. The committee selects dates, locations, and general themes for the programs, and one or two committee members will chair or co-chair the programs. The chair/co-chairs arrange for speakers and other details of the programs. Certain program committee members also function as liaisons to the subject matter committees to facilitate programming for those committees.

    In short, the Program Committee provides opportunities for members to be kept informed on important new developments in the environmental legal landscape. Planning those opportunities is an effective and fun way to participate in section activities.

    The Program Committee welcomes any Section member interested in keeping members up to date on current events and maintains an e-mail list to notify members of meetings and events.

    Chair: Todd C. Schebor
    Dykema Gossett PLLC
    39577 Woodward Avenue, Ste 300
    Bloomfield Hills, Michigan 48304
    (313) 568-6672
    tschebor@dykema.com