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David Zoll, Section Chair (2012-13); 2013 Eldon G. Kaul Distinguished Service Award Recipient, Allen Mitchell; and Eldon G. Kaul

Photo by Eldon Kaul

2012 Distinguished Service Award Recipient Brian B. O'Neill and Sara Peterson, Section Chair (2011-12)

Photo by Eldon Kaul

At its annual Environmental Law Institute on April 19, 2012, the Environment, Natural Resources and Energy (ENRE) Section issued its seventh annual Distinguished Service Award to Brian O’Neill who practiced environmental law at Faegre Baker Daniel’s Minneapolis office and has been involved in a wide variety of environmental issues.  He is best known for his unwavering representation of native Alaskans and commercial fishing interests in over twenty-years of litigation against Exxon Petroleum arising out of the oil spill from the Exxon Valdez tanker grounding.  The ENRE Section’s Governing Council established the award to recognize a member of the bench or bar who has demonstrated a significant commitment and made an outstanding contribution to Environmental, Natural Resources or Energy Law in the state of Minnesota.  Past recipients are Alan C. Williams (2011), Byron E. Starns (2010), Grant Merritt (2009), Martha Brand (2008), Mac Hyde (2007), Charles K. Dayton (2006) and Eldon G. Kaul (2005).

2012 Student Writing Contest - Best Paper Award Recipient Bradley Hammer and Sara Peterson, Section Chair (2011-12)

Photo by Eldon Kaul

As part of its continuing efforts to engage law students, the section puts out a call for student papers on environment, natural resources and energy topics. The contest also provides the Bar with in depth insight into emerging environment, natural resources and energy law issues and encourage scholarship in the field. The section chose Bradley Hammer’s “Turning Brown to Green: Renewable Energy Development on Minnesota Brownfield Properties” as best among the entries, and presented Mr. Hammer, a University of Minnesota law student, with a plaque at the Environmental Institute on April 19, 2012.

On October 16, 2012, the MSBA Environmental, Natural Resources & Energy Section hosted a one-hour CLE program on Frac Sand Mining: Environmental and Regulatory Developments. Following the CLE, the Section hosted a law student reception. The goal of the CLE was to provide an overview of the recent developments in frac sand mining in Minnesota and Wisconsin, a topic that is becoming increasingly important as interest in frac sand mine development in Minnesota continues to grow. Click here for more information.

The MSBA Environmental, Natural Resources & Energy Section presented its annual Agency Update on November 14, 2012. Leonard Street & Deinard hosted the event, at which top state agency officials provided their perspectives on current and upcoming environmental, natural resource and energy issues in Minnesota. Over seventy attorneys attend to hear from … Click here for more information.

Recap of ENRE Law Student & New Lawyer Pizza Reception

Many students and lawyers attended this October 16th event, which provided Minnesota law students with an opportunity to connect with local environmental, natural resources and energy lawyers. The section extends its thanks to Dorsey & Whitney for hosting the event and to section liaison Molly Malone for coordinating it. AS noted at the event, the ENRE Section encourages students to join us as section members, attend our upcoming CLEs, and act as contributing writers for our website. Please click here for more information.

- Last Updated 01/05/2012 -