(Washington, D.C.): The Environmental Law Institute (ELI) is delighted to announce three new members have joined its Leadership Council: Edward (Ted) Boling; Alexandra Dunn; and Richard Leahy. “We are so fortunate to have these outstanding individuals join the ranks of our Leadership Council,” said ELI Leadership Council President Kathy Robb. “ELI’s vision is a healthy environment, prosperous economies, and vibrant communities founded on the rule of law. As esteemed thought-leaders in the field of environmental law and policy, the newest members of our Leadership Council will bring valuable guidance and expertise to ELI as they make law work for people, places, and the planet.”
- Edward (Ted) Boling is a partner at Perkins Coie LLP. Drawing on over 30 years of high-level public service, Ted currently advises leaders on transportation and energy development projects, agencies that must hire outside counsel, and the environmental professionals that support them on the development of renewable energy, resource development, transportation, and infrastructure. Ted served at the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) in the Executive Office of the President, the U.S. Department of the Interior, and the U.S. Department of Justice in Democratic and Republican administrations. His experience includes deep involvement in federal infrastructure permitting issues, the first comprehensive revision of CEQ’s National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulations in 40 years, and the development of guidance on mitigation and monitoring, cumulative impacts analysis, and establishing categorical exclusions from detailed NEPA documentation. Ted also advised the White House on the establishment of numerous national monuments.
- Alexandra Dunn is a partner at Baker Botts LLP. With over 25 years of practice at the local, state, and federal levels of government, Alexandra brings to clients an extensive institutional knowledge and keen ability to help solve regulatory problems companies may face. Alexandra previously served as the Assistant Administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, in which she led the Agency in the creation of national policies implementing federal laws governing chemicals, pesticides, and pollution prevention. Prior to that, she was the EPA Administrator for New England (Region 1). At Baker Botts, Alexandra draws on her federal experience – and on her background serving state environmental agencies at the Environmental Council of States and Association of Clean Water Administrators, her time teaching at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law, and her experience at the National Association of Clean Water Agencies – to problem solve around some of the most cutting-edge topics facing our planet today – climate change, emerging chemicals, water quality, and environmental justice. She has a particular passion for community engagement and for risk communication that inform her perspectives and recommendations.
- Richard (Rick) Leahy is the Vice President of Regulatory Legal & Compliance (formerly VP of Environmental, Health and Safety Compliance (EH&S)) at Walmart. In this capacity, Rick is responsible for the legal development and oversight of Environmental, Fire and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Compliance programs in all global business formats, as well as other regulatory areas. Prior to his current role, Rick was Senior Associate General Counsel for environmental matters in the Corporate Legal department, and he served as Senior Director for environmental compliance prior to that. Before joining Walmart, Rick was an attorney with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) where he managed environmental law groups in Atlanta, New York City, and Washington, D.C. Rick received two Gold Medals, one Silver Medal, and nine Bronze Medals, EPA’s highest civil awards, and two special accommodations from the Department of Justice for his environmental enforcement work.
The ELI Leadership Council is the Institute’s group for the most prominent environment, energy, and natural resource leaders in the nation. The Council recognizes leaders for their commitment of resources and time to the Institute’s vision of a healthy environment, prosperous economies, and vibrant communities founded on the rule of law. Members participate in events and have a chance to network and engage other leaders in discussions about key environmental law and policy issues.