Sunrise Powerlink Hearings

Last year, the Environmental Law Society got involved with the controversy concerning the Sunrise Power Link. On Tuesday, the California Public Utilities Commission heard public comment on the issue. A spokesman for The Sierra Club was on KPBS radio this morning speaking on the issue. The podcast and transcript are posted on the KPBS website.

A spokesman for Sempra Energy will be on tomorrow.

The Sustainability Task Force is up

The Sustainability Task Force is starting 2008 with three events to launch our serious commitment to the environment. The details are below.

Focus the Nation. USD is one of more than 1,500 universities participating in activities related to climate change and sustainability.

The Annual All Faith Service. The service on February 7, 2008, is dedicated to taking care of God's creation.

Sustainability Newsletter. This communication vehicle will let you know about all environmental efforts on campus. Volume I of the Sustainability Newsletter is available at www.sandiego.edu/gogreen.

The Sustainability Task Force plans to keep you updated twice every semester. We encourage you to get involved early in 2008 and to maintain your energy and enthusiasm for our efforts to Go Green throughout the year. We will do our best to keep the campus informed about our efforts. We want to thank everyone who already has demonstrated the right spirit.

Al Gore Wins the Nobel Prize

Late last week, the Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the Nobel Peace Price to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and former U.S. Vice President Al Gore for "their efforts to build up and disseminate greater knowledge about man-made climate change, and to lay the foundations for the measures that are needed to counteract such change." The Environmental Law Society extends its sincere congratulations to Mr. Gore and thanks him for his lifetime of service to environmental causes.

This award marks an exciting and dynamic time in the field of environmental law. More than ever, there are opportunities for the USD Environmental Law Society and you as students and future lawyers to take a leadership position on campus, in the San Diego community, and around the world. The USD Environmental Law Society will to continue to work with local and national environmental law attorneys, legal scholars, government agencies, and NGOs to keep the University of San Diego on the forefront of environmental law scholarship.

Please stay tuned to this blog to keep up to date with events on campus. Better yet, become more active in the club. Contact Thomas or Daniel with ways to get involved.

Daniel Lowe -- ELS Secretary & Webmaster

Sustainability Committment Proclamation Passed!

Thank you to Thomas Del Monte and Forrest Merithew for their hard work in passing this resolution.

Student Bar Association

University of San Diego School of Law

Resolution E

Sustainability Commitment Proclamation

Whereas, climate change from greenhouse gas emissions endangers our environment, health, and economies, and the struggle against the effects of climate change will shape the 21st century; and

Whereas, addressing the climate-change challenge by promoting practices which are sustainable and promote a healthy environment, by minimizing our carbon footprint as quickly as economically feasible, and by integrating legal training that promotes sustainability into our curriculum will better serve the students and meet our social mandate to help create a thriving, ethical, and civil society; therefore

Be it resolved, that the Student Bar Association of the University of San Diego School of Law proclaims that we, as an institution of higher education, must exercise leadership, both on campus and throughout our community; by modeling sustainability practices in our daily activities, by influencing future campus planning to reduce global warming emissions, and by providing an academic framework designed to equip our university and her graduates with the necessary skills and knowledge to become leaders in the formation and interpretation of environmental law and policy.

Sponsored by the University of San Diego School of Law’s Environmental Law Society, Vice President of ELS Forrest Merithew, and SBA Councilor Thomas R. Del Monte.

Help the San Diego Coastkeeper at the Hotel Del!

The USD Environmental Law Society is very excited to have an opportunity to help out the San Diego Coastkeeper with their annual Ocean Gala. It's on Saturday, November 3rd, from 7pm to 12am at The Ballroom of the Hotel Del Coronado . They need volunteers to help set-up, help with the auction, etc. Volunteers need to dress in cocktail attire (not black tie) and need to attend a Mandatory training on October 30th from 6:30 - 7:30 (pizza will be provided.) All volunteers will receive a FREE dinner at the Del, and this will definitely have an opportunity to mingle with professionals in the field of Environmental Law.

There's 2 shifts available:

- 11am to 5pm or
- 4:30 pm to 12am

Just email Mary your Name, Email Address and the Shift you would like to work at mkoehrlein@gmail.com.

If you're more interested in attending the gala than in working it, students are receiving a $75 discount, so tickets are $100. Here is the online invitation and RSVP form.

If you have any questions or would just like some more info, email Mary at mkoehrlein@gmail.com or Deanna at SD Coastkeeper, Deanna@SDCoastkeeper.org .



Thank you!

Lantham & Watkins Webinar

Complimentary Live 90-minute Webinar Sponsored by Latham & Watkins

Climate Change: Latest Impacts on Land Use, Water Supplies, and Energy and Infrastructure Projects

Wednesday, October 10, 2007, 9:00 am Pacific

New federal and state laws—along with a spate of land use lawsuits—require that development projects now grapple with climate change. The issue arises not only with new federal and state climate change laws, but also with long-standing laws such as the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the California Water Code. In turn, these laws present questions about how all projects, large and small, can most efficiently satisfy new climate change mitigation requirements.

This program will address the following key issues for development projects:

• The emerging case law on NEPA's climate change requirements.
• California's new legislation, Senate Bill 97, which addresses climate change requirements and development project exemptions under CEQA.
• The recent, landmark settlement agreement between the California Attorney General and the County of San Bernardino on climate change and land use.
• Strategies for addressing climate change in water supply assessments and environmental review documents under NEPA and CEQA.
  

Speakers

Christopher W. Garrett , Global Co-Chair, Land Use Practice, Latham & Watkins

Janice M. Schneider , Partner, Latham & Watkins and former Counselor to the Deputy Secretary of the Interior

Christopher H. Norton , Of Counsel, Latham & Watkins

Adrianna B. Kripke , Associate, Latham & Watkins

Registration

To register for this complimentary program, please click here. The program will be accessible through your computer and, upon registration you will receive instructions on how to log-in to the Webinar. If you have any questions regarding this program, please email Miki Hanlen or call (202) 350-5261.