A Federal Lands Agenda for the 21st Century:

Options for the New Administration

32nd Annual Public Land Law Conference

September 22-24, 2008
Missoula, Montana

Proudly presented by The University of Montana's Public Land & Resources Law review, in partnership with the Public Policy Research Institute.

Special thanks for the generous support provided by:

                

 

Conference Summary

The 32nd Annual Public Land Law Conference brings together leaders from government, industry, academia, the legal and conservation communities and beyond to explore challenges facing public lands and discuss key elements for a federal lands agenda for the 21st century. The conference will offer a broad context of national law and policy as well as detailed discussions of critical issues related to federal lands governance in the West and recommendations for how these issues might be addressed in the next administration.

Attorneys may earn up to 11 CLE Credits.

Click to view information about sponsorship opportunities. Contact us at plrlr@umontana.edu with any questions.

A block of rooms has been reserved at the DoubleTree at a special rate. This block of rooms will be available until August 26. Call 406.728.3100 or book online.

Download the Conference Brochure

Download the Draft Policy Report

Schedule

Monday, September 22 - University Center Theater, UC, 3rd floor

Evening

7:00 Keynote address:  Notes on a Progressive Public Lands Policy

John Leshy, Harry D. Sunderland Distinguished Professor of Real Property Law, University of California Hastings College of the Law, Former Solicitor, Department of the Interior

Introduction by George Dennison, President, The University of Montana

Reception following at Western Progress

Tuesday, September 23 - University Center Conference Room, 3rd floor

Morning

8:30 Welcome and Conference Introduction

E. Edwin Eck, Dean, The University of Montana School of Law

8:45 The Big Picture – Today's Challenges to Federal Lands

What are the key reforms that the next administration should consider for the federal land management agencies and why? What are the most promising agency initiatives already in place and how can these be expanded for future management? This panel will examine and comment on the findings of the National Advisory Board policy report and will provide additional perspectives on the challenges ahead in public lands governance.

Introduction and moderator: Rebecca Watson, Partner in the Denver office of Hogan & Hartson, specializing in public land energy and former Assistant Secretary, Department of the Interior administering federal energy and public lands programs

Speakers: Karin Sheldon, Executive Director, Western Resource Advocates; Maggie Pittman, District Ranger, Missoula Ranger District, USDA Forest Service; Mat Millenbach, Western Rivers Conservancy Stewardship Director, former Montana Bureau of Land Management State Director

10:00 Break

10:15 The Whole Landscape – Managing Beyond Traditional Boundaries

Many land use, natural resource, and environmental issues cut across multiple jurisdictions, particularly on mixed ownership landscapes dominated by federal lands. These “transboundary” issues or resources create a gap in governance, a situation where no single agency or entity has the legal authority or power to command a solution. This session will examine alternative models for regional resource management on federal lands, and offer prescriptions on the most compelling approaches for the next administration.

Introduction and moderator:  Matthew McKinney, Public Policy Research Institute, The University of Montana

Speakers:  Bob Keiter, Wallace Stegner Professor of Law and Director of the Wallace Stegner Center for Land, Resources, and the Environment at the University of Utah; Jan Brown, Executive Director, Yellowstone Business Partnership; John Thorson, retired Assistant Chief Administrative Law Judge, California Public Utilities Commission

Noon Lunch (provided to paid registrants)

Afternoon:

1:15 Keeping the Public in Public Lands

This panel will consider current issues surrounding public access, including hunting, fishing, wildlife management, and recreation, as well as issues of devolution and privatization of public resources.

Introduction and moderator:  Amy Webbink, former Senior Attorney at the Government Accountability Office, focused on public land issues

Speakers: Gloria Flora, Director, Sustainable Obtainable Solutions, former Forest Supervisor for Lewis & Clark National Forest; Steve Doherty, Attorney, Chairman of Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission; Reed Watson, Coordinator of Applied Programs, Property and Environmental Research Center (PERC)

2:45 Break

3:00 Forest Management for a Changing West

This panel will provide an overview of national forest management issues and a look into the future. Given the challenges identified in the National Advisory Board policy report, what changes might improve implementation of the National Forest Management Act, federal fire policy, and the Healthy Forests Restoration Act?

Introduction and moderator: Jim Burchfield, Associate Dean, College of Forestry and Conservation, The University of Montana

Speakers: Martin Nie, Associate Professor of Natural Resource Policy, The University of Montana; Thomas DeLuca, Forest Ecologist, The Wilderness Society; Ellen Engstedt-Simpson, Executive Vice President, Montana Wood Products Association; Rebecca Tsosie, Professor of Law, Willard H. Pedrick Distinguished Research Scholar; Executive Director, Indian Legal Program, Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, Arizona State University

5:00 Reception following at the Meloy Gallery

Wednesday, September 24 - University Center, North Ballroom, 3rd floor

8:30 Valuing Species – Is There a Need for Endangered Species Act Reform?

What are the major areas of the ESA deserving attention in the coming administration? How can public resource agencies best manage critical habitat for listed species while meeting other statutory mandates? How could ESA reform benefit public lands governance?

Introduction and moderator: Tom Jensen, Partner, Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal, LLP, Washington, D.C.

Speakers: Dale Goble, Margaret Wilson Schimke Distinguished Professor of Law, University of Idaho; Steven Quarles, Partner and former chair of the Environment & Natural Resources Group, Crowell & Moring LLP, Washington, D.C.; Jack Tuholske, Tuholske P.C., adjunct professor, Vermont Law School and The University of Montana School of Law

10:00 Update – Mining Law Reform in the 21st Century

What is the current status of mining law reform? How will this affect federal lands governance, attorneys, landowners, and industry? The discussion will focus on legislation before the current Congress, and implications for practitioners.

Speaker: Bonnie Gestring, EARTHWORKS, Northwest Circuit Rider

10:50 Break

11:00 Realizing the Vision – Next Steps in a Public Lands Agenda for the 21st Century

Discussion of revision, finalization and implementation of the policy report based on feedback received by conference speakers and attendees.

Facilitated by: Ray Cross, Professor, The University of Montana School of Law; John Freemuth, Ph.D., Senior Fellow at the Cecil D. Andrus Center for Public Policy and Professor of Political Science and Public Administration at Boise State University.

Noon   Conference concludes