Maria Carolina Crespo, LLM Student, Attends 40th ALI-ABA Environmental Law Course in Washington, D.C.

Maria Carolina Crespo, an LLM student from Argentina, recently attended the 40th ALI-ABA Environmental Law Course in Washington, D.C.

The advanced course of study provided a broad overview of the latest developments arising in each of the major areas of U.S. environmental law, thus providing attendees an understanding of the “big picture,” as well as an opportunity to learn about the changes in other intersecting facets of environmental law that may affect their practices.

The course featured over 16 hours of instruction, particularly looking at legislative initiatives, regulatory changes, and new presidential-related issues arising from the first year of the Obama administration.

The first day involved a series of introductory lectures on the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, Superfund, and the Toxic Substances Control Act. The second and third days involved presentations from more than 30 seasoned practitioners, federal government representatives (including the EPA, DOJ, State Department, etc), law professors and counsel and other professionals from advocacy organizations.

This year’s top-flight faculty included EPA’s General Counsel Scott Fulton and Assistant Administrator Steve Owens, as well as Counselor to the Secretary of Interior Steve Black.

"The course offered a very good overview about environmental law in an effective format," Ms. Crespo reports. "Also the course provided a good diversity in topics especially in water and air issues, climate change, and the challenges the Obama administration will face in the near future."

By the way, you have no doubt noticed the pictures of Ms. Crespo in front of the White House as well as the picture (just to the left) of one of the White House entrances. Her stay in Washington was prolonged a week longer than she had expected by the heavy snowfalls that the nation's capital experienced during the early days of her visit. So she had "extra" time to explore the city. But she was a good sport about it, and never mentioned to anyone that while the temperatures were cold and snowy in Washington, the weather in her home city -- Buenos Aires -- was sunny and hot!