38th Annual Environmental Law Update 2026

  • Webcast seminar
  • OnDemand seminar
  • Attorney Regulation
  • Environmental Law
Up to 7.5 Credit Hours
View schedule and faculty
38th Annual Environmental Law Update 2026

Co-produced with the Environmental Law Section of the State Bar of Wisconsin

A fountain of knowledge

In environmental law, just one year is enough time to shift the ground beneath your feet. New developments across water, air, and land continue to reshape how attorneys advise clients and manage risk. The 38th Annual Environmental Law Update pulls those changes together into one clear, practical program where the information is always flowing.

Experienced practitioners, regulators, and presenters will cover:

  • Water and wetlands regulation and enforcement updates
  • Air trends, including permitting and ozone nonattainment
  • PFAS issues expanding across regulatory and compliance areas
  • Ten things you should know about federal Indian law
  • Agricultural law developments and enforcement trends
  • Ethics in environmental law practice, including AI use and jurisdictional issues
8:15 am
Welcome and Introductions

Tressie K. Kamp

8:30 am
Keynote Address

Anne M. Vogel

9:00 am
Water/Wetlands Update

Michael J. Kowalkowski

10:00 am
Break
10:15 am
Air Update

Gail Good, Todd E. Palmer

  • Status of Southeast Wisconsin ozone nonattainment
  • Air Permitting trends
  • Federal enforcement under the current federal administration
  • PFAS air regulation
11:15 am
Indian Law for Environmental Law Practitioners

Chandra N. Harvey, James Rasmussen, Jillian Rountree

  • Fish and Wildlife Treaty Rights and Jurisdiction
  • 10 Things You Should Know About Federal Indian Law
  • Best Practices in Working with Tribes
12:15 pm
Networking Lunch Break – All Welcome
1:15 pm
Ethics and the Environmental Lawyer

Christopher J. Jaekels, Jodi Arndt Labs, Timothy J. Pierce

  • AI Update
  • Issues with multi-jurisdictional practice (Rule 5.5)
  • Disclosing imminent environmental harm/client confidentiality issues
2:15 pm
Local Government & Commissions Panel

Moderator: Alixandra J. Burke Speakers: Vincent R. Bauer, Heather Dietzel, Jane R. Landretti, Benjamin McKay

  • Local and regional cooperation and governance
  • Watershed-scale planning and permitting coordination
  • Stormwater, green infrastructure and climate resilience measures
3:15 pm
Break
3:30 pm
Updates in Agricultural Law

Moderator: Derek J. PunchesSpeakers: Fred J. Hegeman, Bradley J. Motl, Jason Mugnaini, Adam Voskuil

  • Trends in state judicial enforcement involving agricultural facilities
  • Emerging tools in citizen enforcement of agricultural water pollution permits
  • Current and emerging issues with PFAS-containing biosolids and industrial sludge
  • Federal policy updates and funding opportunities
4:30 pm
Program Concludes

Program Chair

Tressie K. Kamp
Center for Water Policy · Milwaukee

Speakers

20 total
Vincent R. Bauer
Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District · Milwaukee
Alixandra J. Burke
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources · Madison
Heather Dietzel
Milwaukee Public Schools · Milwaukee
Gail Good
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources · Madison
Chandra N. Harvey
Department of Natural Resources · Madison
Fred J. Hegeman
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources · Madison
Christopher J. Jaekels
Amundsen Davis LLC · Milwaukee
Michael J. Kowalkowski
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources · Madison
Jodi Arndt Labs
Conway, Olejniczak & Jerry, S.C. · Green Bay
Jane R. Landretti
Stafford Rosenbaum LLP · Madison
Benjamin McKay
Southeastern WI Regional Planning Commission · Waukesha
Bradley J. Motl
Wisconsin Department of Justice · Madison
Jason Mugnaini
Wisconsin Farm Bureau · Madison
Todd E. Palmer
Michael Best & Friedrich LLP · Milwaukee
Timothy J. Pierce
State Bar of Wisconsin · Madison
Derek J. Punches
Godfrey & Kahn · Madison
James Rasmussen
Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission · Odanah
Jillian Rountree
Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 Counsel · Chicago
Anne M. Vogel
Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 Administrator · Chicago
Adam Voskuil
Midwest Environmental Advocates Inc. · Madison

  • Understand the latest in water and wetlands regulation, including permitting and enforcement trends shaping compliance decisions
  • Get clarity on air regulation and enforcement priorities, from ozone nonattainment to PFAS-related air issues
  • Apply federal Indian law principles with confidence, including treaty rights, jurisdiction, and effective Tribal collaboration
  • Stay ahead of agricultural and PFAS-related risks, including enforcement trends, citizen actions, and emerging biosolids concerns
  • Navigate real-world ethics challenges, including AI use, multi-jurisdictional practice, and disclosure of environmental harm
  • Environmental lawyers
  • Agricultural lawyers
  • Real estate lawyers
  • Construction lawyers
  • Municipal and government lawyers

Book Bonus!

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The Environmental Law Section is pleased to offer three scholarships to attend the 38th Annual Environmental Law Update in person or via live webcast on Thursday, September 10, 2026. For more information on scholarship eligibility and the application process, please visit wisbar.org/EnvironmentalScholarship. The deadline to apply is Monday, August 17.

Questions? Contact Section Coordinator Kara Olson.

Attend the in-person seminar for a complimentary taco bar lunch sponsored by the Environmental Law Section and get to know fellow attendees and speakers.

Sponsored by

Interested in sponsoring this program? Find out more.