September, 2014

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Where the Wild Things Are: Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of The Wilderness Act

Vermont Law

Summary: Thanks to the Wilderness Act, nearly 110 million acres across the United States are forever protected in their naturally pristine state. This month, the Wilderness Act celebrates its 50. th. anniversary. Considered to be the highest degree of land protection, “wilderness areas” demonstrate an enduring commitment to preserving our natural heritage.

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Trans Energy Settlement Shows Need for E&P Wetlands Compliance Strategy

The Energy Law Blog

On September 2, 2014, the Department of Justice announced a settlement in United States v. Trans Energy, Inc. , No. 14-117 (N.D.W.Va.), requiring the oil and gas company to pay $3 million in civil penalties and to spend approximately $13 million to restore 15 sites in West Virginia that had been developed without dredge and fill permits. The United States and the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection alleged that the company impounded streams and discharged dirt, sand, rocks and o

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Change Policy in Rhode Island: A Personal Perspective

Vermont Law

Summary: Allen Smith, a rising 3L at Vermont Law School, spent the summer in Rhode Island working on climate change policy in both the Statehouse and the Department of Environmental Management. While not only seeing a Climate Bill signed into law, but also being an active part of the implementation process with various state agencies, Smith describes what it was like to work with state officials on a daily basis and the rewarding nature of environmental policy work. _.