Don't Make My Green Acres Brown: Environmental Issues Affecting Rural Illinois

Although environmental issues affect almost every area of legal practice, downstate attorneys are often the most affected. This full-day seminar provides attorneys with a basic understanding of the most common environmental issues. Topics include: potential impacts on water resources, waste management, contaminated property, legal issues in herbicide/pesticide application, innovative ideas to solve environmental problems; common environmental violations; and ethical considerations when dealing with agricultural, environmental, and real estate law. The information gained from this seminar will put attorneys in a better position to provide sound legal advice to clients facing environmental issues. The seminar is designed for general practice lawyers, agriculture law attorneys, and environmental practitioners with all levels of experience.

 

 

This session addresses the full spectrum of land ownership issues – from necessary inquiries before the property purchase goes through to the obligations for an owner of contaminated property. A discussion on obtaining information, what to do with that information, as well as the site remediation program of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency is also included.

Water is a critical aspect of the environment, and the protection of it has a tremendous impact on how we manage our property, business, and development. This session provides a comprehensive overview of water pollution, required permits, Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs), and issues involving wetlands and storm water.

 

In this segment, the speaker discusses the relevant issues regarding herbicide application and the Clean Water Act. An update on the Environmental Protection Agency’s new guidance on spray drift is also included.

 

This plenary session offers innovative ideas to solve environmental problems, while also examining the Atrazine citizen suit.

 

This session discusses how to bring a private cause of action for environmental affronts, including private nuisance actions and the impacts of coal mining waste.

 

Your client comes in with a letter saying he has violated the Illinois Environmental Protection Act. Your first thought is: What statute? This session examines various parts of the Environmental Protection Act and the impacts it can have on your client. Topics include: what attorneys need to be aware of; what constitutes waste, dumping, and burning; and what can or cannot be done with tree trimmings, tires, and other items that are no longer needed. The session also includes a discussion of what to do when a violation notice is received, as well as common mistakes made in the response.

 

3:30 – 3:45 p.m. Break (Refreshments Provided)

 

This panel presentation examines the various ethical obligations attorneys may face in agricultural, environmental, or real estate law scenarios.