Seminar on Strengthening the Enforcement and Administration
of Environmental law in North America

The Commission for Environmental Cooperation of North America and the Institute for Legal Research at Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) invite judges, magistrates, prosecutors, officials, attorneys, students and all persons interested in the effective enforcement of environmental laws to the Seminar for the Strengthening of Environmental Law Enforcement and Administration in North America, to be held 18-20 November 2008 at the Institute’s facilities in Mexico City.

The objectives of the Seminar include the exchange of experiences, capacity building, and a discussion of areas of opportunity to enhance environmental law enforcement and administration in Canada, Mexico and the United States. The Seminar will feature the participation of judges and members of the judiciary in the three countries and experts in the administrative and criminal enforcement of environmental laws. The Mexican Supreme Court will participate in the Seminar, where practicing lawyers will also share practical experiences in environmental law enforcement.

Tuesday, 18 November 2008

• Introduction
  See a video of the presentation

• Background paper
  United States: Eva H. Kreisler, Senior Attorney, International Compliance Assurance Division, USEPA.
  Canada: CEC Secretariat.
• Presentation
  Mexico: Dr. César Nava Escudero. Investigador. Instituto de Investigaciones Jurídicas de la UNAM.
  Mexico: Wilehaldo Cruz Bressant. Coordinador General Jurídico. Unidad Coordinadora de Asuntos Jurídicos. SEMARNAT.
• See a video of the presentation (available in spanish only)

• Background paper
  (A) Standing to sue.
  United States: Andrea L. Berlowe, Senior Counsel, U.S. Department of Justice,
  Environment and Natural Resources Division.
  Mexico: Lic. Karla Acosta Resendiz – Procuraduría Federal de Protección al Ambiente
  Canada: CEC Secretariat.
• See a video of the presentation. (available in spanish only)
• Questions and answers session. (available in spanish only)

• (B) Evidentiary issues.
  United States: Andrea L. Berlowe, Senior Counsel, U.S. Department of Justice,
  Environment and Natural Resources Division.
  Mexico: Lic. Karla Acosta Resendiz – Procuraduría Federal de Protección al Ambiente
  Canada: CEC Secretariat.
• See a video of the presentation

• (C) Causation.
  United States: Andrea L. Berlowe, Senior Counsel, U.S. Department of Justice,
  Environment and Natural Resources Division.
  Mexico: Lic. Karla Acosta Resendiz – Procuraduría Federal de Protección al Ambiente
  Canada: CEC Secretariat.
• See a video of the presentation (available in spanish only)

• Background paper
  (D) Urgent Situations.
  United States: Eva H. Kreisler, Senior Advisor. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
  Mexico: Lic. Karla Acosta Resendiz – Procuraduría Federal de Protección al Ambiente
  Canada: CEC Secretariat.
• See a video of the presentation (available in spanish only)

• (E) Natural Resource Damages.
  United States: Thomas W. Swegle, Attorney Advisor, Law and Policy Section,
  Environment and Natural Resources Division, U.S. Department of Justice.
  Canada: CEC Secretariat.
• See a video of the presentation (available in spanish only)

• (F) Penalties.
  United States:Thomas Swegle, U.S. Department of Justice.
  Mexico: Dra. María de Lourdes Hernández Meza – Procuraduría Federal de Protección al Ambiente.
  Canada: CEC Secretariat.
• See a video of the presentation (available in spanish only)

• Background paper
  United States: Thomas W. Swegle, Attorney Advisor, Law and Policy Section,
  Environment and Natural Resources Division, U.S. Department of Justice.
  Mexico: Dra. María de Lourdes Hernández Meza
  – Procuraduría Federal de Protección al Ambiente
  Canada: CEC Secretariat.
• See a video of the presentation (available in spanish only)

• Background paper
  (A) Local law enforcement attorneys, municipalities and commissions that perform auditing
  or public scrutiny related to environment. This panel will also address coordination between
  federal enforcement authorities and state and local enforcement authorities.
  United States: Eva Kreisler, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
  Mexico: Dra. María de Lourdes Hernández Meza
  – Procuraduría Federal de Protección al Ambiente
  Canada: CEC Secretariat.
• See a video of the presentation (available in spanish only)

• Background paper
  (B) This panel is directed to discuss experiences in using mechanisms such as alternative
  dispute resolution, arbitration and other mechanisms for conciliation.
  United States: Thomas W. Swegle, U.S. Department of Justice, Environment and Natural Resources Division.
  Mexico: Dra. María de Lourdes Hernández Meza – Procuraduría Federal de Protección al Ambiente.
  Canada: CEC Secretariat.
• See a video of the presentation (available in spanish only)

• (C) The process included in articles 14 and 15 of the NAAEC will also be analyzed
  and discussed, by having a CEC official give a presentation to the participants in the seminar.
• See a video of the presentation (available in spanish only)

• Background paper
  CEC Secretariat: Marco Antonio Heredia, Program Manager, Environmental Law.

• See a video of the presentation (available in spanish only)