National Legal and Stormwater Policy

Date: Presented at StormCon 2024 in Reno, Nevada on August 28, 2024
Speakers: Michael Trapp, Seth Brown & Anya Kwan
Credits: 0.75 PDH / Approved for all Envirocert International, Inc. (ECI) Certifications: Approval #PDH-0042

This session will provide an overview of the legal and policy landscape in the stormwater sector at the national level. Legal issues will include PFAS/PCB Class action lawsuits, the Chevron and Maui County Supreme Court cases, and other recent and upcoming significant SCOTUS cases. Policy issues of focus will include resilience efforts, emerging contaminants dynamics, and the results of the recent Clean Watersheds Needs Survey.

Session duration: 45 minutes

About the Presenters

Dr. Michael Trapp is a proven industry leader who understands the regulatory drivers that clients face. He has over 20 years of experience and has provided innovative, effective, and practical solutions to academics, and public- and private-sector clients. His keen business sense and ability to lead large, diverse teams has resulted in selections and reselections on multiple on-call contracts. His ability to push the science of stormwater forward and build consensus with diverse stakeholder groups is evident in committee work for professional organizations and leadership in the Southern California Stormwater Monitoring Coalition (SMC).

Seth Brown has over 25 years of experience in the water sector and is the Principal and Founder of Storm and Stream Solutions, LLC and is currently the Executive Director of the National Municipal Stormwater Alliance, which is a 501.c.3 representing stormwater-focused organizations in 24 states. Seth has a Ph.D. in civil engineering from George Mason University, teaches courses on water-related topics, and is a licensed professional engineer in the state of Maryland.

Anya Kwan is an associate in Best Best & Krieger LLP’s Environmental and Natural Resources Law practice group. With previous experience as a chemist, Anya assists cities and water districts understand the scientific basis of mandated water quality standards. Although Anya primarily works on matters involving per- and poly- fluorinated alkyl substances and bacteria, she also monitors which chemicals are likely become an emerging contaminants before regulations are implemented.