NEPA and Agriculture: Basics and CEQ’s Proposed Regulations

Topic:

The National Environmental Policy Act, which courts have deemed “our basic national charter for protection of the environment,” requires that federal agencies perform environmental analysis—either an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement, unless categorically excluded—before taking major federal actions significantly affecting the quality of the human environment. “Federal actions” includes numerous activities directly involving or impacting agriculture. This webinar will address the basics of NEPA and walk through changes to NEPA’s implementing regulations recently proposed by the Council for Environmental Quality, various reactions to those proposed changes, and how those changes may impact the intersection of NEPA and agriculture.

 

Time and Date:

   

 Wednesday, April 1st, 2020

12:00 – 1:00 (EDT)

Participation:

This webinar is offered free of charge and is limited to the first 100 registrants. It is recommended that you test your computer for software compatibility prior to the webinar by clicking here.

This webinar was recorded on April 1, 2020. To view a recording of this webinar, click here. 

Presenter:

Karen Carr, Partner, Arent Fox LLP 

Karen Ellis Carr is a Partner and Co-Leader of the Agricultural Technology group at Arent Fox LLP. Focusing her practice on biotechnology, pesticide law, environmental law, and related litigation, Karen represents entities in litigation under a number of federal environmental and administrative law statutes, regulatory and product counseling, and on issues related to advertising and labeling, testing and reporting, and data use and compensation disputes. She has significant experience with regulatory counseling and/or litigation under the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard, FIFRA, NEPA, the Endangered Species Act, the Plant Protection Act, the Toxic Substances Control Act, and the Administrative Procedure Act, and routinely speaks and writes on biotechnology, crop protection and chemical regulation, food labeling and environmental law.

In addition to her work with individual companies, Karen has represented a number of industry associations in litigation, coordination of industry regulatory strategy, and federal and state legislative issues. She has first- and second-chaired matters in numerous state and federal trial and appellate courts throughout the country and in arbitration and mediation, and has experience in all phases of litigation, from pre-litigation strategy and counseling to settlement negotiation and appeals. Karen also serves in numerous firm leadership positions and maintains an active pro bono practice.

Research & Materials:

PowerPoint Presentation