Regulatory hot topics
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​This panel will highlight significant federal regulatory changes/proposals and how they impact licensing and operations of hydropower facilities.  The panel will use real world examples from conference attendees to explain the impact of these changes and proposals.   
 
Who Should Attend:  Environmental Managers, Government Relations Managers, Senior Risk Managers, Attorneys, Consultants
 
Why You Should Attend:  There are significant federal regulatory changes underway and these changes are likely to impact not only the licensing process, but also operations and maintenance activities.  This session will help attendees understand the proposed changes and the impact they will have on NWHA members.

Andrea Wortzel, Moderator
​Partner/Practice group leader, Troutman Pepper hamilton sanders LLP, NWHA general counsel
About Andrea: Andrea Wortzel’s practice focuses on natural resource-related compliance, including addressing issues such as water quality, endangered species, National Environmental Policy Act reviews, environmental justice and water rights. She works closely with hydropower projects as they navigate through ESA consultation, NEPA analyses, and obtaining Clean Water Action Section 401 certifications. Additionally, she has worked with hydropower clients on environmental justice studies, and with strategies for developing ESG programs. She serves as General Counsel to the Northwest Hydroelectric Association.

speakers

Kim Ognisty
Senior counsel, Pacific Gas & Electric
About kim: I am Senior Counsel in the Strategy and Policy group in PG&E's law department and provide legal and strategy support for PG&E's 25 hydroelectric projects. Prior to joining PG&E's law department, I represented hydroelectric owners and operators throughout the country as outside counsel at a large law firm. I began my hydro legal career in the Energy Projects branch of FERC's Office of General Counsel. I graduated from Lewis and Clark Law School and owe my hydro career to the great foundational education I received on issues relevant to the hydroelectric industry.

Dustin Till
Assistant General Counsel, Pacificorp
About Dustin: Dustin Till is assistant general counsel at PacifiCorp in Portland. He supports PacifiCorp's renewables group on project development and compliance across PacifiCorp's six state service territory, with a particular focus on hydroelectric resources. Over the past eight years, he has been PacifiCorp's lead counsel on Klamath dam removal issues.

Anna Wildeman
Attorney, Troutman Pepper
about Anna: Anna specializes in state and federal environmental law and policy with a particular emphasis on U.S. water law and policy. Before joining Troutman Pepper, Anna helped lead the EPA's Office of Water, where she worked on major rulemakings and crafted national policy relating to nutrient management, environmental markets, and transparency and responsiveness of government. Prior to her work at EPA, Anna was a prosecutor in the state of Wisconsin and the Director of the Department of Environmental Protection.

Northwest Hydroelectric Association
providing a regional forum for the hydropower industry

P.O. Box 441 Lake Oswego, OR 97034
Phone: 503-502-7262    Fax: 503-253-9172  Email: info@nwhydro.org