multi-stakeholder natural resources state-of-the-practice meeting
preliminary Agenda
Thursday, September 17, 2026
Washington, DC
Speakers being added each day.
9:30 AM
Welcome
Barbara J. Goldsmith, Executive Director, Ad-Hoc Industry Natural Resource Management Group; President, Barbara J. Goldsmith & Company LLC
William J. Jackson, Partner, Kelley Drye & Warren LLP
9:45 AM
WHY THIS MEETING AND WHY NOW: BACKGROUND AND DESIRED OUTCOMES
Barbara J. Goldsmith
10:00 AM
opening ADDRESS: View From The Hill: Energy & Environmental Policy in Motion
Christopher Prandoni, Chief Counsel and Deputy Staff Director, US Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
10:45 AM
PLENARY SESSION: reflections on state of PRACTICE - LAW, SCIENCE, economics AND POLICY
This plenary session will provide a practical overview of the major legal, scientific, economic and policy developments shaping natural resource and environmental practice today. Speakers will discuss evolving regulatory priorities, climate and sustainability considerations, emerging contaminants, practice trends and changing stakeholder expectations in both the US and globally.
Participants will gain insight into the broader forces influencing natural resource strategy, site-specific decision-making and long-term organizational planning, while hearing diverse perspectives from leaders across disciplines and sectors.
Moderator:
Invitation Pending
Speakers:
Carl Bruch, Director, International Programs, Environmental Law Institute
Al McGartland, Ph.D., Economic Policy Director, Institute for Policy Integrity, New York University Law School and former Director, National Center for Environmental Economics, US Environmental Protection Agency
Other Invitations Pending
12:00 PM
break for networking lunch
12:45 PM
luncheon address
Joel Beauvais, Managing Director, North America, National Audubon Society
1:15 PM
PRESENTATION AND INTERACTIVE DISCUSSION: GLOBAL NATURAL RESOURCE DAMAGE ASSESSMENT RESOURCES FOR THE MULTI-STAKEHOLDER COMMUNITY
This session will introduce a new multi-stakeholder “Global NRDA Resources” tool designed to help practitioners navigate natural resource damage assessment and restoration (NRDAR) matters more efficiently. Speakers will demonstrate how the resource organizes guidance materials, data tools, restoration information and process considerations into a practical and searchable framework.
Participants will engage in discussion, explore real-world application of the resource and identify tools and approaches that can support more informed and efficient NRDAR practice. We will then invite a mix of stakeholders to provide extemporaneous comments on how they envision using the new resource and comment on any related issues, concerns or suggestions.
Co-Presenters:
Timothy Hoelzle, Deputy Director, Office of Restoration and Damage Assessment, US Department of the Interior
Thomas Pearce, Counsel, Latham & Watkins LLP
Interactive Work Out Leader:
Jason Kinnell, Principal Economist and Founding Partner, Veritas Economic Consulting
Multi-Stakeholder Commenters:
Emily Morrison, Ph.D., Senior Environmental Scientist, ARCADIS
Tony Penn, Chief, Assessment and Restoration Division, US Department of Commerce, National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Other Invitations Pending
2:30 PM
break
2:45 PM
PRESENTATION AND INTERACTIVE DISCUSSION: SHARING INSIGHTS AND LESSONS LEARNED
This session will highlight practical lessons learned from NRDA matters across sectors, agencies and disciplines. Participants will receive an early look at the never-before-compiled “Lessons Learned” resource focused on capturing practical experience-based insights across all phases of the NRDAR process.
Participants will have the opportunity to contribute real-world lessons, common roadblocks, suggested practices and potential metrics for success drawn from their own experiences to help strengthen consistency, efficiency and restoration outcomes over time. We will then invite a mix of stakeholders to provide extemporaneous comments on how they envision using the new resource and comment on any related issues, concerns or suggestions.
Co-Presenters:
Mike Johns, Senior Environmental Consultant, Barr Engineering
Thomas Gulbransen, Program Manager, Battelle
Interactive Work Out Leader:
Theodore D. Tomasi, Ph.D., Senior Principal, Integral Consulting Inc.
Multi-Stakeholder Commenters:
Invitations Pending
4:00 PM
PRESENTATION AND INTERACTIVE DISCUSSION: RECOMMENDATIONS AND TOOLS FOR ESTABLISHING MENTORSHIP PROGRAMS
This session will explore practical approaches for transferring institutional knowledge and developing the next generation of NRDA practitioners. Speakers will present a new “Mentorship and Training Program” resource designed to help organizations establish or strengthen mentorship and professional development efforts.
Participants will discuss strategies for building interdisciplinary expertise, sustaining institutional knowledge and adapting mentorship frameworks to meet organizational and workforce needs across sectors. We will then invite a mix of stakeholders to provide extemporaneous comments on how they envision using the new resource and comment on any related issues, concerns or suggestions.
Co-Presenters:
Annie Gibbs, Senior Environmental Consultant, Barr Engineering
Other Invitation Pending
Interactive Work Out Leader:
Kegan Brown, Partner, Lowenstein & Sandler LLP
Multi-Stakeholder Commenters:
Stephanie Maggio, Ph.D., Ecological Risk Assessor, GHD
Jean Martin, Senior Counsel, BP
Other Invitations Pending
5:15 PM
SUMMARY and next steps
Barbara J. Goldsmith
William J. Jackson