Act 13 in 3D: Drilling, Doctors, and Disclosure

Watch Keynote Here

FEATURING

John R. Hanger, Keynote Speaker

2014 Pa. Gubernatorial Candidate and Former Secretary, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection

“The Truth about Gas Drilling and America's Energy Choices”

Bernard Goldstein

Emeritus Professor, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health Department of Environmental and Occupational Health

“Disclosure Provision Punts the Real Concerns”

On February 14, 2012, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett signed Act 13 into law as the most recent amendment to the Oil and Gas Act, creating a comprehensive Marcellus Shale legislative package. Within Act 13 lies the hotly contested Chemical Disclosure Provision that was added during the conference committee meeting, which has generated significant debate across several industries.

This symposium will provide a neutral venue for an in-depth panel discussion by proponents and opponents of the bill on behalf of the oil and gas, public health, legal, and environmental industries. Speakers will be invited to express their positions on the provision in light of their experience and to consider whether or not these seemingly divergent interests can be reconciled through judicial and agency action.

This program has been approved by the Pennsylvania Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Board for four and a half (4.5) hours of CLE credit (3.5 substantive and 1 ethics). The cost for processing CLE credit is $75 per person, payable in advance or upon entering the program. (The CLE fee is separate from the cost of admission.)

SCHEDULE

11:30 a.m.–Noon           Registration and Lunch

INTRODUCTION TO PENNSYLVANIA ENERGY POLICY & THE CHEMICAL DISCLOSURE PROVISION

12–12:05 p.m.               

Welcome 

Alexandra Malatesta, Editor in Chief, Pittsburgh Journal of Environmental & Public Health Law, University of Pittsburgh School of Law Class of 2013

12:05–12:45 p.m.          

Keynote Address: The Truth about Gas Drilling and America's Energy Choices

John R. Hanger, Esq., Eckert Seamans LLC, 2014 Candidate for Pennsylvania Governor and Former Secretary, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection

12:45–1:10 p.m.            

Legislative Review: Can You Keep a Secret?

T.H. Lyda, Esq., Burns White LLC

LITIGATING THE CHEMICAL DISCLOSURE PROVISION

1:10-1:35 p.m.                

Limiting Physician Information

Barry R. Furrow, Esq., Director, Health Law Program, Drexel University Earle Mack School of Law

1:35–1:50 p.m.                    

Doctor Restrictions Go to Court

Lauren M. Williams, Esq., Curtin & Heefner LLP

1:50–2:05 p.m.                  

Non-Disclosure, Non-Discovery

Jeffrey V. Mansell, Esq., Goldberg Persky & White PC

2:05-2:20 p.m.             

Why All Stakeholders Should Look to Science, Rather than Politics, for Answers

Chad A. Wissinger, Esq., Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin PC

2:20–2:35 p.m.              Coffee Break

INDUSTRY AND COMMERCIAL IMPLICATIONS

2:35–3 p.m.              

Finding Common Ground through the Exercise of Best Management Practices

Todd Normane, Esq., Associate General Counsel, Talisman Energy

3-3:15 p.m.              

Act 13 Disclosure: A Human Health Protection Paradox

Michael P. Joy, Esq., Reed Smith

3:15-3:30 p.m.              

Protecting Property Rights and Public Health in Pennsylvania

Jessica C. Tully, Esq., Steptoe & Johnson

3:30-3:40 p.m.              

Proprietary Prosecution

Jeffrey D. Roberts, Esq., Burns White LLC

PUBLIC HEALTH & ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

3:40–4:05 p.m.                  

Disclosure Provision Punts the Real Concerns

Bernard Goldstein, Emeritus Professor, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health Department of Environmental and Occupational Health

4:05–4:20 p.m.             

Impacts upon a Targeted Public Health Response to Gas Drilling Activities

Raina Rippel, Director, Southwest Pennsylvania Environment Health Project 

4:20–4:30 p.m.            

Encouraging Data Transparency

Samantha Malone, MPH, CPH, Creator of fractracker.org

4:30–4:45 p.m.                  

Emergency Preparedness Hampered "Disclosure" Provision

Margaret Potter, Esq., Professor of Health Policy and Management and Associate Dean for Practice, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health

4:45-5 p.m.                 

"Reflection and Reconciliation of Divergent Interests"

Oday Salim, Esq., Adjunct Professor of Energy Law and Supervisor of Environmental Law Clinic, University of Pittsburgh School of Law

5 p.m.                            

Closing Remarks

William M. Carter Jr., Dean, University of Pittsburgh School of Law

~Networking Reception to Follow~

This event is generously sponsored in part by Burns White LLC.