2021 Villanova Environmental Law Journal Blank Rome LLP Symposium, 2/5-19

“The South Philadelphia Refinery”

Friday, February 5
Friday, February 12
Friday, February 19

The South Philadelphia refinery has played an important role in the Philadelphia region for nearly 150 years. The refinery site is now in the process of being remediated and redeveloped, a process that involves numerous government entities and private parties addressing financial, legal, and public health issues.

The 2021 Villanova Environmental Law Journal Blank Rome LLP Symposium will focus on environmental law and environmental justice issues relating to the site.  Experts from government, the community, and academia will share their insights in a series of prerecorded and live sessions throughout February.

This lecture is approved by the Pennsylvania Continuing Legal Education Board for 2 Substantive Distance CLE credits. Please note registration is required. Attendees will receive an email from Eventbrite with the link for each session on the day of the event.

Agenda

Friday, February 5

11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.: Academic Perspective

Christina Simeone, Senior Fellow, Kleinman Center for Energy Policy, University of Pennsylvania

Acquisition and Redevelopment of the Former PES Refinery (Watch the Pre-Recorded Session Now)*

Erin Brooks, Partner, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP
Julianna Connolly, Founder, Green Ladder Environmental LLC
Jeremy Grey, Executive Vice President, Industrial Development, Hilco Redevelopment Partners
Jasmine Sessoms, Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs, Hilco Redevelopment Partners

Introduction to Approaching a Complex Contaminated Site for Cleanup and Redevelopment—The Legal and Business Perspective (Watch the Pre-Recorded Session Now)*

Friday, February 12

12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m.: Managing Overlapping Local, State, and Federal Jurisdiction

Kevin Bilash, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
David Brown, Environmental Cleanup and Brownfields, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
Patrick O’Neill, Divisional Deputy City Solicitor, Regulatory Law Unit, City of Philadelphia Law Department

Friday, February 19

Protecting Community Health (pre-recorded)*

Reginald Harris, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (Watch the Pre-Recorded Session Now)
Alexa Ross, Philly Thrive (Watch the Pre-Recorded Session Now)
Charles Reeves, Tasker Morris Neighbors Association & Resident Action Committee (Watch the Pre-Recorded Session Now)
Marilyn Howarth, MD, FACOEM, Senior Fellow and Director of Community Engagement Core, Center of Excellence in Environmental Toxicology, Center for Public Health Initiatives, University of Pennsylvania (Watch the Pre-Recorded Session Now)

* Pre-recorded sessions will be released on the date noted to stream at your convenience.
Pre-recorded lectures are not available for CLE credit.