Program Overview
Over the past several years, there have been major changes in environmental policies at the federal level, as well as here in Ohio. Among these changes include precedent-setting U.S. Supreme Court rulings that have impacted federal agency rulemaking (e.g., Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo1), new budget plans that have shifted priorities for the federal government2 and in Ohio3, the elimination of federal programs and jobs that were originally created to protect environmental and community health4, and the limiting of the breadth of the National Environmental Policy Act5, the Clean Water Act6, and the Endangered Species Act7, among a plethora of additional changes. Certainly, environmental professionals have found themselves operating within a new policy landscape.
Join this breakfast panel to hear from Ohio-based environmental law and policy specialists about critical takeaways for environmental professionals. This event is designed for environmental professionals who do not specialize in environmental law but whose work is directly affected by it. Whether your focus is on water resources, land management, wildlife conservation, energy systems, or community health, this panel will offer a clear and practical breakdown of recent legal and policy changes. Experts from the Midwest Biodiversity Institute, The Nature Conservancy, and the Ohio Environmental Council will translate complex developments into actionable takeaways, helping you understand how these shifts may influence your ability to plan, implement, and advocate for environmental initiatives across Ohio and beyond.
The breakfast panel (8:00 to 9:30 a.m.) will be held at the Ohio Union Great Hall. Immediately after, consider attending the Ohio Environmental Council’s Public Interest Environmental Law Conference. Then, we invite you to return to the Ohio Union from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. for one of the first U.S. screenings of the new documentary Revealed: How to Poison a Planet, featuring a Q&A session with famous environmental attorney Rob Bilott.
This event is free for students and livestream attendees thanks to generous gifts from EPN's Annual Sponsors, including ENGIE North America, Ohio State Energy Partners, the Sustainability Institute at Ohio State, the Ohio EPA, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife, Del-Co Water Company, and the Ohio State University Facilities Operations and Development.
1: Supreme Court of the United States, “Loper Bright Enterprises et al. v. Raimondo, Secretary of Commerce, et al.” (2024) Link here.
2: Office of Management and Budget, “Fiscal Year 2026 Discretionary Budget Request.” (2025) Link here.
3: Office of Governor Mike DeWine, “Governor DeWine signs FY’26–’27 operating budget.” (2025) Link here.
4: The Impact Project. (2025) Link here.
5: U.S. Department of Energy, “Energy Secretary Announces Updated NEPA Procedures to End Permitting Paralysis and Unleash American Energy.” (2025) Link here.
6: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “Administrator Zeldin announces EPA will revise Waters of the United States rule.” (2025) Link here.
7: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service & National Marine Fisheries Service, “Rescinding the definition of ‘harm’ under the Endangered Species Act.” (2025) Federal Register, 90(73), 16102–16105. Link here.
Agenda
7:15 a.m. Doors open at Ohio Union Great Hall; Coffee served for in-person attendees.
7:30 a.m. Breakfast buffet served for in-person attendees.
8:00 a.m. Livestreaming service begins for virtual attendees. Tim Haab, PhD, director, Ohio State’s School of Environment and Natural Resources provides welcome remarks.
8:05 a.m. Bella Shorr, Environmental Policy Major, OSU School of Environment and Natural Resources (SENR), outlines event themes from the perspective of a current student and future environmental attorney.
8:10 a.m. A series of presentations and a moderated panel discussion to provide a roadmap for how environmental practitioners can interpret important changes to policies, agencies, and programs at the federal and state levels, featuring:
- Chris Yoder, Research Director, Midwest Biodiversity Institute (MBI)
- Trent Dougherty, Executive Director, MBI; Partner, Hubay Dougherty
- Nathan Johnson, Senior Attorney for Land and Water, Ohio Environmental Council
- Mary Turocy, Director of Policy and Government Relations, The Nature Conservancy Ohio
- Moderator: Ramiro Berardo, PhD, Professor of Environmental and Natural Resources Policy, SENR
9:10 a.m. Live audience Q & A session for both in-person and virtual audiences
9:25 a.m. Harrison Fried, PhD, Director, Environmental Professionals Network, provides closing remarks.
9:30 a.m. Chris Tavenor, JD, General Counsel, Ohio Environmental Council (OEC) introduces topic themes and agenda for extended conference sessions.
Continued Events After the Breakfast
10:15 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. The OEC Ohio Public Interest Environmental Law Conference takes place at the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law. The OEC Ohio Public Interest Environmental Law Conference is separate from this EPN breakfast event; you must register with the OEC directly to attend the law conference (OEC Law Conference Details and Registration: https://theoec.org/events/2025-ohio-public-interest-law-conference/).
5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Film Screening of Revealed: How to Poison a Planet, featuring a Q&A session with cast member Rob Bilott, J.D., Environmental Attorney, Taft Law Firm; Author, Exposure, and Juliana Huizenga, PhD, Senior Environmental Engineer, Cyclopure.
