Environmental Law

New Environmental Hearing Board Appointments

By M. Joel Bolstein

Dave Hess just wrote on his blog that the PA Senate earlier today confirmed the following individuals as members of the Environmental Hearing Board:  Thomas W. Renwand, Michelle Coleman, Michael Krancer, and Richard Mather.  I spoke with Dave a few minutes ago and he confirmed the information.  The new appointments mean that Judge Krancer has been returned to the EHB, having previously stepped down as Chief Judge to run for the PA Supreme Court.  Rick Mather is currently the Deputy Chief Counsel for PADEP in Harrisburg.  He has a lifetime of experience within the Department and is an excellent addition to the Board.  I have worked with Rick and he has good judgment and I expect a good judicial temperment.   The fifth remaining member is Judge Bernie Labuskas, whose term had not expired.   The new appointments also mean that Judge George Miller's tenure on the EHB has now ended.  There isn't enough time to review Judge Miller's accomplishments or to properly thank him for being an outstanding jurist.  He arrived on the EHB having left private practice in 1995, where Jim Seif and I worked with George where he was chair of our environmental practice group.  We knew George would make an excellent Judge because of his skills and training as an environmental lawyer, his collegial attitude, and his general nature as what people used to refer to as being "a Philadelphia lawyer."  Judge Miller was my mentor at my former firm and I used to enjoy popping down into his office for a chat when I was on the 16th floor of the Rachel Carson Building and he was down on the second floor.   At my former firm, Judge Miller used to affectionately call me "Lad".  At DEP, he used to enjoy calling me Mr. Deputy Secretary.  In many ways, I wouldn't be where I am or who I am without the guidance I received from Judge Miller.  He is everything someone who calls themselves an environmental lawyer should strive to be -- honest, hardworking, knowledgeable, experienced, collegial, good-natured, and respectful to all.  To Judge Miller I fondly say, you can be proud of your accomplishments on the Environmental Hearing Board, which go beyond the decisions you've written and go directly to the respect you've earned from all those who practiced before you.      

Full post as published by PA Brownfields Environmental Law on October 09, 2009 (boomark / email).