Mine Safety and Health Law Special Institute
The Mine Safety and Health Law Special Institute is set for March 21-22 at the US Department of Labor Auditorium, 200 Constitution Ave., N.W., Washington, DC.
Kate S. O’Scannlain, Solicitor of Labor, and David G. Zatezalo, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health, will open the conference on Wednesday morning, March 21.
Issues to be covered at the conference will include:
▪ Topics in 105(c), including updates on Temporary Reinstatement, Interference Claims and more
▪ Litigation roundtable addressing timely issues in FMSHRC litigation from industry and government perspectives
▪ Use of privileges in internal investigations, MSHA investigations, discovery and the 110 context
▪ MSHA jurisdiction and the impact of the Sixth Circuit’s Maxxim Rebuild decision
▪ Update on Criminal Law in the Mine Safety context
▪ The Mine Act and Constitutional Law: The Appointments Clause, the Sixth Amendment and more
▪ The latest on two of the Mine Act’s heaviest sanctions: Flagrant Violations and Pattern of Violations
▪ ALJ Panel: Key issues and tips for practitioners from a diverse panel of judges
Conference chairs are Arthur M. Wolfson, Jackson Kelly PLLC, Pittsburgh, PA, Donna Pryor, Husch Blackwell LLP, Denver, CO, and Jonathan R. Ellis, Steptoe & Johnson PLLC, Charleston, WV.
This conference is a wonderful opportunity to get to know other safety lawyers from across the country, and the attorneys and staff at USDOL that you are already working with in your safety practice. On Wednesday evening, EMLF member law firms are hosting a reception for all speakers and registrants at the law offices of Crowell & Moring LLP, 1001 Pennsylvania Avenue.
To help sponsor this reception, please click here and then email Carolyn at carolyn@emlf.org. You can find the program schedule and registration information here.
Special Institute on Petrochemicals
Registration for the EMLF Special Institute on Petrochemicals is now open. The conference is being held April 10-11 at the Omni William Penn in Pittsburgh, PA. The Institute will be focusing on legal issues surrounding the growth of the petrochemical industry in Appalachia.
Topics to be covered include:
- Shell Chemicals Appalachia Cracker Project
- Petrochemical Development in Appalachia
- Natural Gas Liquids Storage
- Hydrocarbon Liquids Storage in Subsurface Reservoirs
- Challenges to Adequate Pipeline Development
- Permitting a Cracker
- Toxic Substances Control Act
- OSHA’s Process Safety Management Standard
- Internal Investigations in Petrochemical Emergencies
- Workforce Development
If your organization is interested in sponsoring this special institute, those opportunities are here.
The room block at the Omni is open until March 19; reserve your accommodations online and register for the meeting by going to the EMLF website.
May 1 Is the Deadline for Law Student Scholarship Applications
Applications for EMLF Law Student Scholarships are now being accepted. Click here to go to the page about the scholarships.
Be sure you have all your materials gathered together and sent to the EMLF no later than May 1. Applications should include two letters of recommendation with at least one from a law school dean, faculty member, or member of the legal profession. Any supporting material can be faxed to 859.226.0485, mailed to EMLF Scholarship Application, 340 South Broadway, Suite 101, Lexington, KY 40508 or sent by email to the EMLF office. If sending material by email, please put your name in the subject line so that the supporting material can be linked to your application.
Job Opening
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) has posted a vacancy announcement for an experienced attorney to work with their Natural Resources and Environment team. The office is particularly hoping to reach candidates who have experience with federal energy law.
The position is open for application until February 21; the full announcement is here.