This Spring, the Texas Legislature convened in Austin for its 86th Legislative Session. The session saw debates over pipeline construction interference, natural disaster readiness in the wake of Hurricane Harvey and the future renewable energy in Texas.
Vanessa Casado-Perez
- Published “Specialization Trend: Water Courts” in the 49th edition of Environmental Law Journal (2019).
- Published “A Street View of Property” in the University of California Hastings Law Journal (2019).
- Presented “Liquid Business” at the University of Oklahoma Faculty Workshop in Norman, Oklahoma (January 30, 2019); and at the University of Houston Environmental Works in Progress Series in Houston, Texas (December 6, 2018).
STUDENTS WIN STATE BAR SCHOLARSHIP
Kevin Hernandez (3L) and Taylor Faught (3L) were awarded the Buck Wynne Memorial Scholarship—established by the State Bar of Texas Environmental and Natural Resources Law Section —for attaining the highest grades in TAMU Law’s Natural Resources Law and Policy class, taught by Professor Casado Perez.
On November 1, 2018, experienced attorneys engrossed students with career advice at a panel on Careers in Environmental & Natural Resources Law. Texas A&M Law proudly hosted Susan Maxwell of Bickerstaff Heath Delgado Acosta, Caroline Sweeney with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (“TCEQ”), Peter Wahl of Jackson Walker; and Steve McMillen with Texas Instruments (“TI”).
The Texas A&M Journal of Property Law’s annual fall symposium, Rural Development: Using Innovation to Create Thriving Communities, brought together influential scholars from across the country to present their research on barriers to development and solutions to advance and protect rural America.
The Texas A&M Law Review Fall 2018 Symposium, Agriculture 2.0: The Changing Legal Landscape for Texas Agriculture, invited prominent scholars and practitioners from across the nation to present and comment on current issues in the law of agriculture. Topics included the current trade climate for the ag industry and possible results of the Trump Administration's trade policy changes on producers. Protection of agriculture and rural land was also a common theme throughout the day.
The day began with a panel on environmental policies, highlighting current innovations and efforts relevant to the national and local ag industry. Panelists included Steve Dauphin of the Kirchner Group, Charles Maguire of the United States Environmental Protection Agency - Region 6, and Environmental Counsel Scott Yager of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. Afterward, Chelsea Good, General Counsel for the Livestock Marketing Association, presented updates on policies and laws regulating animal traceability.
Texas A&M Law’s Global and Comparative Law Program put on a two-day event running from February 28 to March 1, 2019, addressing the ways by which North America is dealing with global change as a region. The event was attended by many high-profile experts on the subject of trade including keynote speaker, Ricardo Ramirez Hernandez, former WTO Appellate Body member.
The 10th Annual Energy Symposium—Energy Law Currents: From the Ground Up—organized by the TAMU Law Program in Natural Resources Systems, highlighted many pressing issues in energy law. Speakers discussed topics such as clean energy technology, the hydrocarbon industry’s relationship with local communities, and electricity governance. The symposium also featured valuable advice for students interested in a career in energy law.
On November 2, 2018, law students and faculty visited the John Bunker Sands Wetland Center in Seagoville, Texas, located outside of Dallas, Texas. Director John DeFillipo greeted the group and provided an orientation on the history, purpose, and future goals of the Wetland Center.
Texas A&M Law Professor and Natural Resources Systems Program director, Gabriel Eckstein, was elected president of the non-profit International Water Resources Association (“IWRA”) in late 2018. His three-year term began in January of this year.
“This is really a wonderful honor,” said Eckstein. “IWRA is one of the most respected, water-focused organizations globally, and I look forward to building on the association’s excellent policy work, which seeks to ensure sustainable water resources for people and the environment.”