Environmental, Natural Resources, and Energy Law Section
Annual Report
2022-2023
Section Membership
As of June 1, 2023 the Section has 287 members.
Financial Status
The Section had an account balance of 19,320 as of April 30, 2023.
CLEs & Events
The Section hosted 8 events in fiscal year 2022-23.
| Program Title | Date | Event Code | CLE Credits | Attendees | Virtual/ In-person/ Hybrid |
| Environmental Update from the Minnesota Department of Health | 5/11/2023 | 485206 | 1.0 Standard | 24 | In-person |
| ENRE Annual Meeting | 5/2/2023 | N/A | N/A | 15 | Hybrid |
| ENRE Section Happy Hour | 4/11/2023 | N/A | N/A | 29 | In-person |
| 2023 Update from Minnesota’s Environmental Agencies | 3/2/2023 | 480725 | 2.5 Standard | 47 | Hybrid |
| COP 27 - a Minnesota Perspective | 1/11/2023 | 478529 | 1.0 Standard | 19 | Virtual |
| Environmental Liability Insurance - Current State of the Practice | 12/14/2022 | 477966 | 1.0 Standard | 29 | Virtual |
| The Inflation Reduction Act 101 and ENRE Law Student Reception | 11/2/2022 | 475712 | 1.0 Standard | 31 | Hybrid |
| Environmental Law Update - What You Missed This Summer When You Were Up at the Cabin (or planning for the State Fair) | 9/29/2022 | 473244 | 1.0 Standard | 33 | Virtual |
Annual Meeting and Election Results
The Section’s Annual Meeting was held on May 2, 2023 and 15 people attended.
The following officers were elected to serve on the Section’s Governing Council from 07/01/2023 to 6/30/2024:
- Chair: Brian Bell, Dorsey & Whitney LLP
- Vice-Chair: Joseph Dammel, Fresh Energy
- Treasurer: Laura Matson, Lockridge Grindal Nauen P.L.L.P.
- Secretary: Amelia Vohs, Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocac
- Immediate Past-Chair: Judge Elise Larson, Minnesota Court of Appeals (ex-officio)
The following Council Members were elected to serve on the Section’s Governing Council for a two-year term from 07/01/2023 – 06/30/2025:
- Thomas Braun, Stoel Rives LLP
- Andrew (Andy) W. Davis, Stinson LLP
- Peter Farrell, Minnesota Attorneys Office
- Alison Martwitz, Ecolab Corp
- Kenneth Podpeskar, 3M Company
- Lindsey Remakel, Fredrikson & Byron, P.A.
- Elizabeth Schmiesing, Winthrop & Weinstine, P.A.
- Jeffery Sepesi, Environmental Law and Science, PLLC
The following Council Member was elected to serve on the Section’s Governing Council for a one-year term from 07/01/2023 – 06/30/2024:
- Devin Driscoll, Fredrikson & Byron
The following Council Members are serving existing term from 07/01/2022 – 06/30/2024:
- Paul Beck, Dorsey & Whitney LLP
- Rachel Kitze Collins, Lockridge Grindal Nauen P.L.L.P.
- Michael Cummings, Fredrikson & Byron
- Sam Ketchum, Kennedy & Graven
- Allison Mitchell, Fond du Lac Band Lake Superior Chippewa
- Elizabeth Wefel, Flaherty & Hood
- Aaron White, Minnesota Land Trust
Thank you to outgoing Council Members:
- David Zoll, Lockridge Grindal Nauen P.L.L.P
- Sarah Lovegreen, Winthrop & Weinstine, P.A.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
ENRE continued its dedication to diversity through having, as our goals, integrating diversity into recruitment, new member outreach, section leadership, CLE speakers and topics as well as collaboration with affinity bar associations.
Other Section Accomplishments
ENRE collaborated with MN CLE to host the annual Environmental Law Institute which is a full-day CLE and the presentation of the Eldon J. Kaul award to a distinguished member of our bar. We also reviewed applications from various governmental and non-governmental entities for internships over the summer and selected two law school students, from numerous applications, to receive those internships.
Submitted By:
Judge Elise Larson, 2022-23 Section Chair
Date: June 6, 2023