The New York State Bar Association's Environmental Law Section will mark its 30th anniversary with a nine-city Continuing Legal Education (CLE) program to explore environmental issues unique to those specific regions of the state.

Spearheaded by section Chair Barry Kogut, the series will come to Buffalo July 20 with a discussion focusing on the Natural Resource Damages Claims and the Great Lakes Compact. The CLE series coincides with the 40th anniversary of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

It's designed to showcase the work being done in each of the state's nine NYSDEC regions. The programs will feature NYSDEC regional directors who will provide a historical perspective, as well as a view of future challenges in that particular locale.

"Over the past three decades, our understanding of New York's environmental challenges has continued to grow, even as the solutions have become more complex," said Stephen Younger, New York State Bar Association president. "The Environmental Law Section has been at the forefront of those efforts, offering legal education, congressional testimony, international programs and key publications.

"The importance of its work in the arena of environmental justice and providing a road map to reducing greenhouse gases in New York cannot be underestimated," he said.

The July 20 program is scheduled to begin at 8:45 a.m. at the Adam's Mark hotel. Panel speakers will include:

• Andrew Guglielmi, senior attorney, Office of General Counsel, Bureau of Remediation and Revitalization, NYSDEC

• Sharon Brooks, associate economist, Office of General Counsel, NYSDEC

• Don Zelazny, Great Lakes programs coordinator, NYSDEC

• Barry Boyer, professor emeritus, University at Buffalo Law School

• Maureen Brady, regional attorney, NYSDEC Region 9

• R. Hugh Stephens, Stephens & Stephens LLP

The luncheon speaker will be Julie O'Neill, executive director of Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper. The event also will feature an optional field trip aboard the Miss Buffalo II. Fee for the forum and lunch is $75; the boat trip is an additional $25.

Participants will receive 2.5 MCLE credit hours. Attorneys can earn up to two Professional Practice credits and 0.5 Ethics credits.

Visit NYSBA.org/ENVSummer2010