Join us for a special one-hour edition of our Wetland Coffee Break series to explore the ecological, legal, and political implications for Wisconsin wetlands of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Sackett vs EPA. Hear short presentations by a panel of experts providing the details and context of the case, followed by a facilitated Q&A session with the panelists. Bring your questions on how this decision impacts Wisconsin wetlands! Panelists will include Erin O’Brien, WWA Policy Programs Director; Evan Feinhauer, staff attorney at Clean Wisconsin; and Tom Nedlan, Professional Wetland Scientist, WDNR.
Note: this session will focus on the implications of this recent ruling with respect to wetlands in Wisconsin; the panel does not anticipate spending time on broader implications nationally.
Erin O’Brien, WWA; Evan Feinhauer, Clean Wisconsin; and Tom Nedlan, WDNR.
Please note that this presentation was recorded on June 16, 2023, two weeks after the ruling, and reflects early impressions of the decision’s implications.
Erin O’Brien has been with WWA since 2004. Her current work focuses on strengthening state laws and regulations governing wetland management, building capacity to help integrate wetland conservation into state-sponsored programs, and providing support to communities interested in restoring wetlands to solve problems. Erin has a Master’s degree in Land Resources from UW-Madison and more than twenty-five years of experience managing projects for non-profit organizations.
Evan Feinauer is a staff attorney at Clean Wisconsin who focuses on protecting Wisconsin’s waters by supporting Clean Wisconsin’s policy experts and lobbyists at the Capitol and by litigating in state court. Evan grew up in the country near Omro, Wisconsin. Prior to joining Clean Wisconsin, Evan worked as a Litigation Fellow with the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), where he Evan helped litigate a Safe Drinking Water Act citizen suit responding to the Flint water crisis in federal district court in Detroit, MI. Evan holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and political science from UW-Madison, a master’s degree in ethics and public policy from Suffolk University, and a J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School.
Tom Nedland is a Professional Wetland Scientist with more than 20 years of experience in the wetland science and regulatory realm. During his time with WDNR Tom has held positions in the Waterways Program conducting wetland and waterway permitting, and serving as WDNR’s wetland delineation and wetland mitigation expert. Tom is currently the Section Manager for the Waterways Program’s Policy and Professional Services Section.
Related Content
Wisconsin Wetlands Association Statement on Sackett vs EPA
Myth-busting misconceptions about “isolated” wetlands
How Wetlands Manage Water