Environmental Law Institute Welcomes Three New Members to its Leadership Council: Beth Deane, David Menotti, and Stephen Rahaim

The Environmental Law Institute (ELI) is delighted to announce three new members to its Leadership Council: Beth Deane; David Menotti; and Stephen Rahaim. Expressing her appreciation for the newest members, ELI Leadership Council President Kathy Robb stated, “ELI is so pleased to have these three outstanding attorneys join the ranks of our Leadership Council.  Beth, David, and Stephen represent leading thought-leaders in the environmental field. As the Institute continues to grow, these important voices from across the country will help strengthen our vision of a healthy environment, prosperous economies, and vibrant communities founded on the rule of law. We are lucky to add such esteemed new members to our Leadership Council and look forward to the guidance and expertise they are sure to bring to our organization.” Beth Deane is Chief Counsel of Project Development at First Solar, Inc., a solar manufacturing, construction, and development company with over 10 GW of installed capacity globally.  As a leading expert on solar project development, Beth is involved in real estate, permitting, interconnection, tax, and power procurement, and is responsible for project-related transactional, litigation, regulatory, and corporate matters.  Prior to joining First Solar, Beth was Of Counsel at Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker, where she focused her practice on environmental law, including compliance with hazardous waste, water, and air requirements; regulatory strategy; permitting; civil and criminal litigation; land use; and redevelopment of contaminated property.  Prior to that, she was at Munger, Tolles & Olson, where she engaged in litigation and employment and corporate law.  Beth’s leadership on renewable energy will advance ELI’s work in this area.  Beth is also a member of ELI’s Board of Directors. David E. Menotti is a senior counsel in Crowell & Moring's Environment & Natural Resources Group. With nearly 40 years of experience, David brings vast knowledge and experience to topics surrounding the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, the Toxic Substances Control Act, the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, the Clean Air Act, and similar laws at the state and international level.  Between 1974 and 1982, he served in various positions at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, including Associate General Counsel for Pesticides, Toxic Substances, and Air and Radiation.  He represents a broad array of trade associations and domestic and foreign corporations.  He has also been a visiting professor at the University of Virginia School of Law. His depth and breadth of experience in environmental law will make him an asset to ELI. Stephen Rahaim serves as Chief Environmental Counsel for E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, where he is responsible for the legal aspects of DuPont's environmental, safety, and health (ESH) obligations. In this role, Steve advises DuPont facilities nationwide regarding compliance with various environmental and process safety programs and represents the company in litigation and negotiations with state and federal agencies. He oversees the company’s ESH legal staff on compliance matters across the globe, and has primary responsibility for providing environmental guidance to DuPont's global operations and is actively involved in international litigation. At the corporate level, Steve is the lead legal member of DuPont's Global Environmental Audit Leadership Team and has principle responsibility for review of proposed mergers and acquisitions, including due diligence activities and transactional drafting relating to ESH matters. His broad knowledge of corporate environmental law and compliance are helpful to ELI as it advances private environmental governance strategies. Steve is also a member of ELI’s Board of Directors. 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.