TAMPA, FL. – Oct. 31, 2016 – Greenberg Traurig environmental attorneys Michael Cooke and Paul Seby participated in a panel on carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas issues and regulation during the Florida Section Air & Waste Management Association’s 52nd annual conference Oct. 26-27 at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa.
Cooke, of counsel at Greenberg Traurig’s Tampa office, moderated the panel and served as the conference’s technical committee co-chair. Seby, a shareholder at Greenberg Traurig’s Denver office, was a speaker on the panel.
The panel discussed legal and policy issues associated with the regulation of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. Presentations addressed ongoing litigation over the EPA’s “Clean Power Plan.’’ The plan set requirements for the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions from electric utility units but has been stayed by the U.S. Supreme Court pending the outcome of litigation.
Cooke advises manufacturing companies, industrial facilities, natural gas pipelines companies, shipping terminals and electric utilities around the country on environmental issues, including air permitting, compliance and enforcement, and greenhouse gas matters. He served as director of FDEP’s Division of Air Resource Management from 2003 to 2006, managing the state’s air quality program. He also was general counsel for the Florida Public Service Commission.
Seby advises public and private clients in the energy, mining, manufacturing and service industries on state and federal environmental regulations and policies. He has experience on a broad range of environmental legal issues, including air and water quality, recycling and waste disposal, and surface and ground water. He has represented clients in appearances before the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Courts of Appeal and the Colorado Supreme Court.
Others on the conference panel were Preston McLane, Environmental Administrator of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of Air Resource Management; Howard Herzog of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Energy Initiative; Shannon Bañaga, director of federal affairs for Tampa Electric Co.; and Katherine Katsourides of Trinity Consultants.