|
Events
|
On March 23, 2004, VJEL held its fourth annual spring symposium on "Not In Vermont's Backyard? Public Health and Environmental Concerns in Vermont." (note that no symposium was held in 2003)
The American Cancer Society predicts 1,284,900 new cases of cancer in 2003 with 555,500 cases ending in fatalities, based on a ten-year trend. Three-fourths of these cases are caused by chemicals, radiation, diet, smoking and infectious disease. For lawyers concerned with the environment and public health, incidents of cancer and their link to environmental factors present unique and challenging issues in risk assessment, toxic torts, consumer safety, trade, and regulation at the local, national, and international level. Undoubtedly, Vermont offers some of the most scenic vistas in New England. However, people all too often assume that this beauty means that Vermont does not have the environmental concerns that other states do relating to industry and pollution. Thus, our Symposium brought to light the potential connection between pollution and public health in Vermont.
Panel Discussion, Citizens' Actions Groups and Environmental Health Concerns (Mar. 23, 2004).
Wanda Crossman, Clarendon First. Wanda Crossman formed Clarendon First with Jackie Fenner in February of 2003 to protect their community from toxic contamination. The community currently has 3 children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and one child with Hodgkin's Lymphoma. In addition, three recent Mill River High School graduates have Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Ms. Crossman believes these health problems are related to their community's history of toxic contamination including toxic sludge, chemical leaching, and underground contamination. Ms. Crossman is a Clarendon resident whose daughter was diagnosed with leukemia in 2000.
Alyssa Schuren, State Director for Toxics Action Center's Vermont office Toxics Action Center's mission is to assist residents in fighting pollution to protect our health and the environment. Her degree is in Environmental Studies and Political Science. She has been working on toxics issues for four years.
Panel Discussion, Responding to Environmental Health Concerns: Regulatory, Science, and Public Health Experts (Mar. 23, 2004).
Drew Hudson, Vermont Public Interest Research Group's Field Coordinator. He has worked for the State PIRG's and their affiliates in Maryland, Georgia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Washington DC as field organizer and advocate on environmental and public health campaigns during the last 6 years. At VPIRG he works with three full time advocates to educate the general public on our top priority campaigns, and develop our members into trained activists who work effectively alongside VPIRG staff in the fight for the public interest. He is a graduate of the Greencorps field organizing program and New York University's Gallatin School of Individualized Study.
Priscilla Fox, Environmental Consultant, Vermont Law School Professor. In her work as Legal Consultant to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH), she specializes in legal preparedness for outbreaks of infectious disease and bioterrorism, and regulation of food and drugs. She also works with the International Emergency Management Group (the 6 New England states and 5 Eastern Canadian provinces) to identify and overcome legal barriers to cross-border assistance in emergencies. Ms. Fox served as Deputy General Counsel at MDPH from 1980 to 1992. She received her B.A. degree from Wellesley College and her J.D. degree from Stanford Law School.
Dr. Cort Lohff, State Epidemiologist for the Vermont Health Department. Prior to coming to Vermont, he served as the Assistant State Epidemiologist and Chief for the Center for Acute Disease Epidemiology at the Iowa Department of Public Health. During his four-year tenure there he was involved in a number of activities, including conducting disease and outbreak investigations, responding to questions and concerns from the public, the media, and others, and assisting in the development and testing of emergency response plans, in particular those involving biological agents. Dr Lohff received his medical degree from the University of Wisconsin at Madison, holds an MPH from the University of Michigan School of Public Health, and is Board certified in public health and general preventive medicine.
P. Howard Flanders, Director of the Waste Management Division, Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). As Director, Mr. Flanders is responsible for the solid waste, hazardous waste, site clean-up, and spills programs. Mr. Flanders has 34 years of experience in various Vermont state agencies. Prior to working with the DEC, Mr. Flanders completed graduate work in Civil and Sanitary Engineering at Northeastern University.
Linda Greer, Keynote Speech (Mar. 23, 2004).
Linda Greer, Health & Environment Program Director of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). She specializes in issues related to toxic chemicals and hazardous waste, currently focusing on pollution prevention opportunities at large industrial facilities. Linda is also the author of numerous technical and policy articles on environmental matters, and she has frequently testified before Congress. Previously, Linda was technical director at the Hazardous Waste Treatment Council in Washington, DC. She received her doctorate in Environmental Toxicology from the University of Maryland and her master's degree in environmental sciences and engineering from University of North Carolina's School of Public Health.
|