Environmental Law Explored: A Podcast SEERies

Hosted by ABA Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources

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Aug 2026

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About the show

Top environmental, energy, and resources lawyers discuss career development, legal issues, historical trends, and new developments in environmental law. The views, information, or opinions expressed in Environmental Law Explored: A Podcast SEERies are solely and exclusively those of the speakers and not those of the American Bar Association or the ABA Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources. Environmental Law Explored is intended for educational and informational purposes only.

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August 13, 202632 min

SEER100: The Clean Air Act and Beyond

Join Professor Richard Lazarus of Harvard Law School, author of The Rule of Five, and one of the nation's leading scholars of environmental law, for a discussion on the evolution of environmental law through the lens of the Clean Air Act and other landmark environmental statutes. Drawing on his experience arguing before the U.S. Supreme Court and advising policymakers across multiple administrations, he explores the challenges of applying decades-old laws to modern issues such as climate change, the impact of recent Supreme Court decisions, and the opportunities ahead for the next generation of environmental lawyers. He also examines how regulatory agencies, courts, and Congress have shaped the trajectory of environmental protection and what those dynamics mean for the future of environmental law.

August 10, 202650 min

SEER100: The Evolution of Environmental Law & SEER

As the inaugural episode in this series, this conversation takes a broad look at the evolution of environmental law and the Section's role in shaping the field over time. The panel of former SEER Chairs includes moderator Alex Dunn, President & CEO of CropLife America and former EPA Assistant Administrator, and speakers John Cruden, Principal at Beveridge & Diamond and former Assistant Attorney General at the U.S. DOJ, and Carol Dinkins, former U.S. Deputy Attorney General under President Ronald Reagan. Drawing on decades of leadership across government, private practice, and industry, the speakers reflect on landmark developments in environmental law, the evolution of SEER's influence within the profession, and the challenges and opportunities shaping the field's future. Together, they consider how SEER can continue to contribute meaningfully to the next chapter of environmental law.

July 6, 202636 min

The History and Future of Tribal Timber

This episode explores the history of tribal timber management as a trust resource and the legal framework that governs the federal government's trust responsibilities. Joining the discussion is Chris King, an attorney at Whitley Law Firm and former Attorney Advisor with the U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of the Solicitor, where he spent more than a decade handling complex matters involving federal Indian law, tribal trust responsibilities, and high-stakes litigation against the United States. Tune in to learn about ongoing litigation involving tribal timber, the issues at stake, and the potential implications for the future of tribal trust management.

June 30, 202625 min

Navigating the Headwinds: ESG Developments in a Shifting Global Landscape

Join Josh Galperin, Director of the Sustainable Business Law Hub at Pace University, Lauren Lynam, Sustainable Business Scholar at Pace University and Yale School of the Environment, and John Rutherford, Assistant Regional Counsel at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, as they break down the biggest ESG and sustainability developments of 2025. From climate disclosure requirements and greenwashing litigation to major state and international policy shifts, the speakers explore the trends shaping the future of ESG compliance and what they mean for companies navigating an increasingly complex regulatory landscape.

May 14, 202633 min

The Endangered Species Act at a Crossroads: Litigation, Regulation, and the Future of ESA Enforcement

*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(--scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(--thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" data-turn-id= "request-WEB:525dae71-3ec2-49c9-be14-5d140c2516ad-8" data-turn-id-container= "request-WEB:525dae71-3ec2-49c9-be14-5d140c2516ad-8" data-testid= "conversation-turn-12" data-scroll-anchor="false" data-turn= "assistant"> This podcast featuring Murray Feldman (Holland & Hart LLP) and Sam Kalen (Indiana University McKinney School of Law) examines the evolving legal and regulatory landscape surrounding the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Drawing from decades of experience in government, private practice, and academia, as well as their book, ESA Essentials: The Endangered Species Act , the speakers provide listeners with a practical overview of the ESA's core framework, including species listings, critical habitat designations, and the Section 7 consultation process. Tune in for an insightful conversation on where the ESA has been, the challenges it faces today, and what may lie ahead for one of the nation's most consequential environmental laws. For more from these speakers, see ESA Essentials: The Endangered Species Act , published by the American Bar Association .

December 5, 202550 min

What We Talk About When We Talk About Forest Law

We are pleased to be joined by Professor John Leshy, author of Our Common Ground and the preeminent scholar on the history of America's public lands. Public land management is the cornerstone of forest law in the United States, and Professor Leshy's insights into its scope and evolution are invaluable in helping to piece together the fundamentals of forest law. Forest law presents a daunting barrier of entry to the uninitiated. Forest law is composed of and delimited by a broad swath of statutes, regulations, and norms, all shaped by a diverse array of stakeholders. The implications of forest management decisions are vast and varied, ranging from the hyperlocal—with decisions concerning timber harvest and wildfire mitigation bearing directly on the continued prosperity and existence of some rural communities—to the planetary, as climate change intensifies and the health of the world's forests grows ever further imperative to slow its most devastating effects. Complicating things further, today, forest law in the United States is undergoing rapid changes at the federal level. In beginning to explore the foundations of forest law, there is perhaps no better place to start than with a study of public lands. Host's note: This episode's title is an homage to the brilliant—and troubled—Raymond Carver and his 1981 short story collection "What We Talk About When We Talk About Love."

October 28, 202539 min

Emerging Contaminants: Supply Chain

Emerging contaminants are by their nature neither fully regulated nor fully understood. In this final episode of the Emerging Contaminants series Juge Gregg (Crowell & Moring), Sal Giolando (Geosyntec Consultants, Inc.), and Adam Sowatzka (McGuire Woods) discuss how to assess emerging contaminants in your supply chains to identify potential substances that may be subject to further regulation or increase the risks associated with business operations. This episode explores how companies monitor and manage their supply chains through advanced technologies and strategic practices to prevent regulatory breaches and enhance transparency, ensuring they remain compliant and competitive in a global marketplace.

September 25, 202546 min

Emerging Contaminants: Non-Tailpipe Vehicle Emissions

While we all notice the emissions exiting our vehicle's tailpipes, the emissions from brake dust and tire wear are often overlooked. Scientists are now turning their attention to these lesser-known pollutants, which are emerging as significant environmental concerns. As studies begin to grasp the extent of such impacts from automotive use on our environment, we discuss how regulation of these materials and emissions may impact our existing regulatory scheme and the auto industry as a whole. In this fourth episode of the Emerging Contaminants series, Jack Lyman speaks with Professor Greg Evans (University of Toronto) and Sean Dixon (Puget Soundkeeper) as they explore the role of contaminants like 6PPD and what future regulations might mean for the automotive sector.

September 3, 202532 min

Emerging Contaminants: Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCPs)

Pharmaceuticals and personal care products can be found in every home in America, but now they are also showing up in our wastewater systems and even our lakes and rivers. In this third episode of the Emerging Contaminants series, hear from Professor Bill Arnold (University of Minnesota), Eva Weiler (K&L Gates), and Victor Xu (Marten Law) as they explore how these everyday products are making their way into the environment. The discussion also covers potential regulatory responses, including the possible U.S. ban of titanium dioxide—already prohibited in the EU—and the growing concern over pharmaceuticals and nanoparticles from personal care items polluting our waterways.

August 15, 202530 min

Emerging Contaminants: Ethylene Oxide

In the second installment of our Emerging Contaminants series, we turn our attention to ethylene oxide, a chemical critical to the sterilization of medical and protective equipment yet increasingly scrutinized for its potential carcinogenic effects due to widespread use and long industrial history. In this episode, we're joined by Rebecca Pritchett (Maynard Nexsen), Heather Lynch (Integral Consulting), and David Fusco (K&L Gates) to examine the latest developments in ethylene oxide science, regulation, and litigation. Our guests discuss recent findings and interpretations suggesting that human health risks from ethylene oxide exposure may be lower than previously thought—a perspective that continues to generate scientific, legal, and policy debate.