CLE International (CLE): - Environmental Law on Indian Lands, Santa Fe, NM, June 16-17, 2011

New Conference
Environmental Law on Indian Lands
Preserving & Protecting Resources
June 16 - 17, 2011 • Hilton Buffalo Thunder Resort & Casino • Santa Fe

Overview & Credits

Location

Schedule

Faculty

Tuition & Information

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Credits Available Earn Up to 12 Hours MCLE Credit Including 1 Hour of Ethics Credit

Conference Highlights Experts will give you an overview and history ofenvironmental law in Indian Country, and then guide you through, and update you on, such matters as: • Jurisdiction • Recent Settlements and Decisions • Uranium Mining Clean-Up • Natural Resource Damage Assessment • Groundwater and Energy • Navajo Superfund Act • ESA and NEPA Compliance • Criminal Enforcement of Environmental Laws • Water and Air Quality • Water Rights You also don’t want to miss the Keynote Presentation by Stephen B. Etsitty, Executive Director of the Navajo Nation Environmental Protection Agency. Conference Sponsors:

Thursday, June 16

8:00        Registration and Continental Breakfast

8:30       Welcome and Introduction
                Overview of Day One

                Bidtah N. Becker, Esq., Program Co-Chair
                Attorney, Water Rights Unit
                Navajo Nation Department of Justice, Window Rock, AZ

                Troy A. Eid, Esq., Program Co-Chair
                Co-Chair, American Indian Law Practice Group
                Greenberg Traurig, Denver, CO

8:45        History and Overview
               Jurisdictional Issues and More

               Peter Ortego, Esq., General Counsel
               Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, Towaoc, CO

9:30       What’s New
               The Cobell Settlement; Quechan Indian Tribe v. DOI;
                Natural Resource Damages Cases; and More

                Robert W. Lawrence, Esq.
                Davis Graham & Stubbs, Denver, CO

10:15     Networking Break

10:30      Uranium Mining
                Clean-Up

                David A. Taylor, Esq.
                Navajo Nation Department of Justice, Window Rock, AZ

11:30      Q&A
                Members of the Faculty

11:45      Lunch Break

1:00        Natural Resource Damage Assessment
               The Basics

                Greg Kelly, Esq., Staff Attorney, Natural Resources Unit
                Navajo Nation Department of Justice, Window Rock, AZ

1:45       Groundwater and Energy
                Tribal Efforts to Mitigate Potential Impacts from Hydraulic
                Fracturing; Other Issues and Concerns

                Scott Clow, Environmental Programs Director
                Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, Towaoc, CO

2:30        Networking Break

2:45         Navajo Superfund Act
                 Issues of Tribal Regulatory Jurisdiction

                 Mark F. Sheridan, Esq.
                 Holland & Hart, Santa Fe, NM

3:30         ESA and NEPA Compliance
                 Hot Topics

                 Hadassah “Dessa” M. Reimer, Esq.
                 Holland & Hart, Jackson, WY

4:15         Q&A
                 Members of the Faculty

4:30         Adjourn to a Private Networking Reception

Friday, June 17

8:00         Continental Breakfast

8:30         Welcome Back
                 Overview of Day Two

                 Bidtah N. Becker, Esq., Program Co-Chair

                Troy A. Eid, Esq., Program Co-Chair

8:45        Criminal Enforcement of Environmental Laws
                Nature and Scope of Enforcement Authority Available to Tribes
                and Related Case Law

                Lori A. Hanson, Special Agent in Charge
                U.S. Environmental Protection Agency—CID, Denver, CO

9:30        Networking Break

9:45        Air Quality
                EPA’s Proposed Rule to Regulate Minor Sources in Indian County

                Wendell R. Matt
                Missoula, MT

                Robert S. “Daubs” Thompson IV, Esq.
                Greenberg Traurig, Denver, CO

11:00      Keynote Presentation
                Navajo Nation Agency Perspectives

                Stephen B. Etsitty, Executive Director
                Navajo Nation Environmental Protection Agency
                Window Rock, AZ

11:45     Q&A
                Members of the Faculty

12:00      Lunch Break

1:15        Ethics
                Considerations for the Natural Resources Practitioner

                Troy A. Eid, Esq., Program Co-Chair

2:15         Water Quality in Indian Country
                 Federal and Tribal Aspects

                 Joan E. Drake, Esq. and
                 Deana M. Bennett, Esq.
                 Modrall Sperling, Albuquerque, NM

3:15         Networking Break

3:30         Water Rights
                 A Discussion of the Aamodt, Navajo and Taos Settlements

                 Maria O’Brien, Esq.
                 Modrall Sperling, Albuquerque, NM

                 John W. Utton, Esq.
                 Sheehan & Sheehan, Albuquerque, NM

4:30         Evaluations and Adjourn

PROGRAM CO-CHAIRS

Bidtah N. Becker is a member of the Navajo
Nation and an attorney with the Water Rights
Unit of the Navajo Nation Department of Justice.
The unit pursues quantification and protection
of the Navajo Nation’s rights. She has been
described as one of the most conscientious
and gifted Navajo attorneys now working for the
Navajo Nation. In addition to being a University
of New Mexico School of Law graduate, she is a
graduate of the Georgetown University School of
Foreign Service.

Troy A. Eid, former U.S. Attorney for the District
of Colorado, is a recognized national expert in
American Indian law, and one of Colorado’s top
attorneys in environmental and natural resource
law. He has worked extensively with numerous
Indian tribes and nations for nearly 25 years,
and has been involved in some of the most
complex and high-profile legal matters in Indian
Country. The tribal/federal/state cross-deputizing
training program Mr. Eid developed was so well
received that it is now being used nationally as
a model in other districts. Additionally, the U.S.
Senate recently appointed him to the national
Indian Law and Order Commission created by
the Tribal Law and Order Act.

KEYNOTE PRESENTER

Stephen B. Etsitty is a long time environmental
professional, who spent several years with the
U.S. EPA establishing programs and offices for
Indian Country, before becoming confirmed
as head of the Navajo Nation Environmental
Protection Agency in 2003. His responsibilities
include four departments with 17 different
programs. His numerous accomplishments
include testifying before the U.S. Congress,
serving on the Regional and National Tribal
Operations Committees of the U.S. EPA, and
advising the governors of Arizona and New
Mexico as a member of their Climate Change
Advisory Groups.

FACULTY

Deana M. Bennett, Esq.
Modrall Sperling, Albuquerque, NM

Scott Clow
Environmental Programs Director
Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, Towaoc, CO

Joan E. Drake, Esq.
Modrall Sperling, Albuquerque, NM

Lori A. Hanson, Special Agent in Charge
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency—CID
Denver, CO

Greg Kelly, Esq., Staff Attorney
Natural Resources Unit
Navajo Nation Department of Justice
Window Rock, AZ

Robert W. Lawrence, Esq.
Davis Graham & Stubbs, Denver, CO

Wendell R. Matt
Missoula, MT

Maria O’Brien, Esq.
Modrall Sperling, Albuquerque, NM

Peter Ortego, Esq., General Counsel
Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, Towaoc, CO

Hadassah “Dessa” M. Reimer, Esq.
Holland & Hart, Jackson, WY

Mark F. Sheridan, Esq.
Holland & Hart, Santa Fe, NM

David A. Taylor, Esq.
Navajo Nation Department of Justice
Window Rock, AZ

Robert S. “Daubs” Thompson IV, Esq.
Greenberg Traurig, Denver, CO

John W. Utton, Esq.
Sheehan & Sheehan, Albuquerque, NM

The Best Faculty.
The Best Experience.
Since 1983.

(800) 873-7130

Continuing Legal Education

The Best Faculty.The Best Experience.Since 1983.

(800) 873-7130

Continuing Legal Education

The Best Faculty.
The Best Experience.
Since 1983.