ELI ELI Annual Summit
An Environmental Law Institute Emerging Leaders Initiative Conference
The Environmental Law Institute founded the Emerging Leaders Initiative (ELI ELI) to connect, support, and foster dialogue amongst the next generation of rising stars in environmental law and policy. Selected by some of the most prominent environment, energy, and natural resource leaders in the nation from ELI’s Board, Leadership Council, and staff, Emerging Leaders represent a diverse group selected from across the country and from a variety of practices—from NGOs, to government, to corporations, to private practice—to further bring together those who will shape the future of environmental law and policy, and follow in the footsteps of their predecessors on the Leadership Council and ELI Board.
The third ELI ELI Annual Summit will convene leading environmental law and policy experts and ELI ELI Leaders from across the country. Please join ELI for panels on cutting-edge issues in environmental law and policy, networking opportunities, dialogue, and more at this year’s Annual Summit.
2:00 PM – 2:15 PM
Opening Remarks
Jordan Diamond, President, Environmental Law Institute
2:15 PM – 3:30 PM
Panel 1: Analyzing the EPA’s Proposal to List PFAS Chemicals as Hazardous Substances
This year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed a rule designating perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) as “hazardous substances” under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). PFOA and PFOS are two common per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), often referred to as “forever chemicals” due to increasing evidence showing that they can build up and remain in human bodies for substantial periods of time after exposure. This designation will allow the federal government to regulate, monitor, and respond to the chemicals, as well as potentially require parties to report releases of the chemicals and, in some cases, mandate cleanups.
This panel will discuss what this designation will mean for products regulation and for Superfund sites. How will this affect existing Superfund sites? Which businesses will be most impacted, and what might those impacts be? Can we expect other PFAS chemicals to be designated as hazardous substances? Join our experts to discuss these questions and so much more.
3:30 PM – 3:45 PM
Break
3:45 PM – 5:00 PM
Panel 2: Federal Environmental Justice Initiatives: Developments Throughout 2022
This year, there have been many developments in the field of environmental justice at the federal level, largely from efforts to advance the Biden Administration’s Justice40 initiative. There is an increasing focus on addressing the dangers of cumulative impacts (defined as “the total burden – positive, neutral, or negative – from chemical and non-chemical stressors and their interactions that affect the health, well-being, and quality of life of an individual, community, or population at a given point in time or over a period of time”) on underserved communities. Some recent advancements include: the announcement of the EPA’s Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights, updates to the EPA Legal Tools to Advance Environmental Justice document, the EPA’s Environmental Justice Action Plan, and more.
Join our expert panelists to discuss the executive branch’s environmental justice advancements this year. What progress has been made, and how do we expect these projects to evolve in 2023? How have these initiatives affected environmental law? How will these developments actually impact communities in need? We will address these questions and so much more.
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Networking Reception
Following the two panels, we encourage all Emerging Leaders to attend a virtual networking reception to connect with one another. There will be breakout rooms, engaging discussion questions, and more!
ELI ELI programs are for the exclusive benefit of Emerging Leaders.