Today, our hosts Clarice and Marisa delve into the most recent ruling of “Chevron Deference” and a major reversal of environmental law that will have impacts federally – but what about locally? Learn more about what this ruling means and how it may impact legal decisions going forward.Von Environmentally Speaking

Today, our hosts Clarice and Marisa delve into a groundbreaking scientific development that merges the realms of environmental science and futuristic innovation. Join us as we explore the discovery of plastic-eating bacteria, an advancement that has the potential to revolutionize our approach to plastic waste management. From its initial discovery …

On today's episode of Environmentally Speaking, we dive into the crucial role of native trees in combating soil erosion. Join hosts Marisa and Clarice as they explore the environmental and economic benefits of keeping trees intact. From real-world examples in Australia to our own backyards, discover why cutting down trees might be hurting more than…

In this episode we will are. diving in on some significant and groundbreaking changes in Rhode Island's land use and zoning laws. We'll explore the reasons behind these legislative changes, the expected impact on affordable housing, and how the new unified development review aims to streamline the planning and zoning approval process. We'll also di…

In this episode, we delve into the critical subject of Superfund sites and a groundbreaking new announcement from the EPA concerning the ubiquitous and persistent group of substances known as PFAS. We unpack the implications of these so-called "forever chemicals" being now listed under CERCLA (the Superfund statute) and the far-reaching effects of …

Today's episode is a treat for anyone who's ever dreamed of transforming the old into the new, as we delve into the complex and captivating world of adaptive reuse. We'll be joined by our guest Kerin Browning, bringing us insightful expertise on revitalizing vacant spaces and converting them into residential havens. Tune in as we navigate through t…

In this episode of "Environmentally Speaking," hosts Clarice and Marisa delve into the environmental impact of the Washington Street Bridge in Providence, Rhode Island. They tackle the issue of naturally occurring arsenic in the soil, its potential health effects, and the complexities of remediation efforts. Through their candid conversations and e…

In this episode, host Clarice is joined by Kerin Browning to discuss the complex world of land use and planning. They delve into the complexities of zoning regulations, the impact on property development, and the importance of understanding local zoning ordinances when investing in real estate ventures. Kerin provides valuable insights and practica…

In this episode, Marisa and Clarice delve into the topic of atmospheric rivers, uncovering the impact of these weather phenomena on regions such as California and New England. They explore the environmental and industrial ramifications of atmospheric rivers, shedding light on their effects on water supply, weather patterns, and even the fishing ind…

In this week's episode of Environmentally Speaking, Marisa and Clarice delve into the world of environmental due diligence disasters, shedding light on the dire consequences of mistakes in the commercial transaction arena. As they discuss the pitfalls and hidden risks involved in purchasing and selling commercial properties, they share insights on …

Welcome to Environmentally Speaking, where we tackle important decisions in the environmental world. In this episode, Marisa and Clarice delve into the difference between an environmental attorney and an environmental consultant. They discuss the roles of each professional, the need for expertise in navigating environmental matters, and the strateg…

In this episode of Environmentally Speaking host Clarice welcomes Kerin Browning to the team and they engage in a nuanced discussion about a recent court decision concerning land use and zoning issues. The conversation delves into the legal complexities surrounding notice requirements, the concept of hardship in the context of zoning variances, and…

This episode tackles the alarming topic of Earth being on the verge of catastrophic climate tipping points. Marisa, and Clarice openly share their concerns and discuss the implications of this critical issue. They explore the interconnectedness of ecosystems and the potential consequences of crossing these tipping points. This thought-provoking con…

Welcome to this week's episode of Environmentally Speaking. In today's episode, hosts Marisa Desautel and Clarice dive into the topic of reclaiming abandoned, unloved, and unpopular golf courses. They discuss the dwindling number of golf course openings since 2006 and explore the efforts made by organizations to reclaim these spaces and restore bio…

Welcome to this week's episode of Environmentally Speaking, where we delve into the pressing issues surrounding renewable energy and its challenges. In this episode, our hosts Marisa and Clarice continue their discussion on the unforeseen consequences faced by wind farm projects, both offshore and onshore. They examine a recent article highlighting…

On this week's episode of Environmentally Speaking, Marisa and Clarice tackle the controversial topic of offshore wind. They dive into recent news articles highlighting the financial troubles faced by offshore wind companies, including declining stock values and expiring government subsidies. As they explore the implications of these obstacles, the…

Welcome to the 100th episode of Environmentally Speaking! Today our hosts Marisa and Clarice dive deep into the fascinating topic of AI and its environmental effects. As an environmental attorney, Marisa shares her insights on how AI has been discussed in her field and its potential applications. Meanwhile, Clarice, always one to accessorize approp…

Welcome to another episode of Environmentally Speaking. In today's installment, we delve into the world of environmental assessments and due diligence in commercial real estate transactions. Our guest, Mark, has over 15 years of expertise in this field and will shed light on the often overlooked aspects of compliance with lending institutions' requ…

Welcome to this week's episode of Environmentally Speaking! In today's episode, our hosts Marisa and Clarice dive into a fascinating topic - beavers! Prepare to be amazed as our hosts uncover how beavers are being recruited to fight drought and wildfires. These furry engineers are proving to be essential in restoring ecosystems and replenishing wat…

Welcome to this week's episode of Environmentally Speaking! In today's episode, Marisa and Clarice dive into the topic of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the recent reforms that have taken place. They discuss the intention behind these reforms, the changes that have been made to streamline the NEPA process, and the potential implic…

On this week’s episode of Environmentally Speaking our hosts Marisa and Clarice dive into the topic of tree planting and the opportunity for homeowners in Rhode Island to receive free trees. They discuss the benefits of smartly planted trees, including managing storm runoff and improving air quality. However, the conversation takes an interesting t…

Coming up on this week's episode of Environmentally Speaking, Marisa and Clarice dive into the world of climate change and its impact on the growing seasons. They discuss how the erratic weather patterns are affecting farmers in Rhode Island and the challenges they face in adapting to these changes. From extended growing seasons to disrupted planti…

In today's episode, we dive into a very local topic: the ongoing construction of a solar project in Tiverton, Rhode Island. Join hosts Marisa and Clarice as they discuss their thoughts, concerns, and questions surrounding this solar farm. From the size of the project to the impact on the surrounding environment, they explore various aspects of this…

This week hosts Marisa and Clarice dive into the concerning state of Rhode Island's beaches. From the closure of beloved childhood camps to the presence of bacteria-contaminated shellfish, the situation in Rhode Island is dire. But what exactly is causing these closures, and why are some beaches affected while others remain open? Join us as we unra…

Welcome to another episode of Environmentally Speaking podcast! In today's episode, Marisa and Clarice dive into the fascinating world of floating offshore wind farms. They discuss the unique design of these floating structures and how they differ from traditional wind turbine infrastructure. They explore the advantages of floating platforms, such …

In this episode, hosts Marisa and Clarice dive into the world of environmental decision-making and the controversies surrounding renewable energy and climate change. They start by exploring an intriguing question-and-answer session that sheds light on the debate over permitting reform and its impact on fossil fuel production. They discuss the clash…

In today's episode, we tackle the pressing issue of flooding in Vermont and its connection to climate change. Vermont has recently experienced its rainiest season in the past century, resulting in devastating floods and an increased risk of landslides. We shed some light on the alarming fact that the flooding in Vermont is a clear consequence of cl…

On this episode of Environmentally Speaking, hosts Marisa and Clarice dive into the legislative changes happening in Rhode Island regarding the conversion of vacant commercial properties into residential units. They discuss Senate Bill 1037 Sub A, its multiple drafts, and the removal of environmental harm references. The hosts express their concern…

On this episode of Environmentally Speaking, our hosts Marisa and Clarice dive into the controversial topic of whale deaths and their possible connection to offshore wind activity. Our guest, Robert Rocha, sheds light on the complexities surrounding these deaths and the ongoing debates. Robert starts by acknowledging that while there have been repo…

"On this episode of Environmentally Speaking, we dive into the intriguing world of legal practice and explore a topic that may seem unfamiliar to many - the rule of perpetuity. We explore a real-life situation involving the O'Leary family farm in Rhode Island. Mr. O'Leary has passed away, leaving Mrs. O'Leary with the decision of how to honor the f…

This week we are discussing a recent US Supreme Court case that raises questions about the outer limits of the Clean Water Act and what constitutes "waters of the United States." The proposed rule suggests that there must be a continuous and unbroken surface water connection between bodies of water, but this definition raises questions about how to…

Rhode Island is very active in the clean energy industry in policy, pushing forward its own initiatives and recognizing entities in Rhode Island that are at the front of moving forward with clean energy projects. In this episode we are going to highlight some of the awards across the public sector, which organizations got them and why. These all we…

This week we are talking about the poor air quality that has covered the northeastern part of the United States, particularly New York City and into Rohde Island. The sky over New York has been described as “orange and hazy”. Tune in discuss what are fine particulates and why is it so bad for humans in public health? More importantly, How did this …

This week we are talking about composting of the last variety. What happens you your body after death? Some people are buried in a cemetery, some cremated. What if you could compost your body? Take a listen as we talk about a new bill, 6045 as it relates to funeral director slash embalmer and funeral service establishments. The reason that this pro…

The federal Clean Water Act contains something called a Citizen Suit Provision. If you’re thinking it means “Citizens Arrest”.. you’d be right. But before you get too excited, there isn’t actually an arrest process. So why are we telling you this? The lawsuit we are going to discuss today has to deal with just that and a company discharging illegal…

A 13 year old girl from San Jose, California has been a beekeeper for a few years now and noticed the behavior of some of the bees were… off. IN this episode we talk about this amazing young lady who has made a breakthrough discovery that helps a bees memory. Why is that important? When bees are exposed to pesticides, it ruins or damages parts of t…

In this week’s episode we are heading out to sea! We are going to discuss a recent article of a ship captain who has pled guilty to Environmental Crimes! The Galissas is a tanker that was carrying diesel oil from Rotterdam, Netherlands, to Providence, RI, in February 2022. During their voyage, the vessel discharged untreated oily bilge water direct…

How many of you are ready for summer and ready to hit the waterways for some swimming, boating, etc. Well, pay attention because Rhode Island DEM announces the closure of certain waterways after Fall River accidentally releases 10 million gallons of partly treated wastewater. 10 MILLION GALLONS of wastewater! This is a real crappy situation (pun in…

Earth day was on April 22nd and in this week’s episode, we are going to recap earth day and discuss how people celebrated not just here locally, but around the globe as well! What country do you think has the biggest celebration of Earth Day?Von Environmentally Speaking

How much can you really do with your hair? Well, there are organizations out there collecting human hair (some animal hair as well) and forming mats out of it. They are using these mats made of hair to clean up oil spills! We get into more detail as to how this is done and discuss what happens when there is an oil spill and who is responsible for t…

Ever see an abandoned gas station and wonder why someone just doesn’t do something with it? Well turns out it’s not that easy… or is it? Redevelopment is where you take a previously developed property. And you do exactly what the name says. You re develop it, you're not impacting undisturbed habitat. We are going to give some examples of some redev…

Today we are going to discuss the Rhode Island coastal resources management council (CRMC). We’ve discussed the CRMC in past episodes however, this episode is different. The CRMC isn’t set up like other state agencies are. The CRMC (agency) staff and the executive director work every day like a regular state agency on permits and projects and appro…

It’s been a month since the train derailment in East Palestine Ohio that has caused a horrific environmental disaster. We chose to wait to discuss this topic simply because we wanted there to be some short of concreate news to have a conversation about it. One thing we’ve found is…there are still a lot of questions that need to be answered. Take a …

This episode is going to be a little different. Having done 72 episodes now, some topics we said we would come back to and give you the listener some updates. Well, this week, Clarice breaks down some past topics and brings us current with each of those topics covered. Some of the updates covered this week, Seekonk River oil spill, Providence River…

This week we are doing something different. You’ve heard us mention a blooper reel well, here you go! Get ready for a laugh as we put together some behind the scenes blooper reels for you. To WATCH these, go to our YouTube Channel. ENJOY = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4zkjfaKc38Von Environmentally Speaking

We kick off the show sharing our love for True Crime type podcasts, which brings us to the question of, “have you ever wondered how we really are as a species?”. It’s somewhat disturbing to think the extent and the depth we as a species have the capacity to harm each other. Is it different to think that way when it comes to animals? We start to dis…

This week we had special guest Caitlin Townsend on the show talking about "Net Your Problem" Caitlin shares her story and how she came to working with "Net Your Problem" She recycles end of life fishing gear and gives it a new life, and she explains how they do that! “biggest passion in life is advocating for fishermen, and just really understandin…

Do you have a rental property or an Air BnB in Rhode Island? Well this week’s topic has us hot under the collar as we discuss a new registry in Rhode Island. Is it a state or local issue? Is it a new law or new rule? How are people repostponing to it? Take a listen as we answer these questions and discuss how this is impacting the home owners.…

Buckle in folks, Marisa is fired up this week! We are discuss a recent decision that the supreme court issued in a case here locally. The particular case we discussing is not what we would call your customary environmental law case because it’s a private cause of action that is based in insurance, contract law. However, it just so happens that the …

This week are going to discuss an issue we are seeing here with Aquaculture. We did a show once before about what Aquaculture is (Ep: 017 - https://bit.ly/3RnpZke). But to recap, it’s the farming of sea life for consumption. Today however we are going to discuss a conflict of uses of any submerged land that is adjacent to the coastline out to three…