NEPA Special Institute - Salt Lake City, UT

CLE On Demand | Membership | Publications | Speaking Opportunities

Special Institute on

National Environmental Policy Act

November 6-7, 2025

Wallace Stegner Center at the S.J. Quinney College of Law at the University of Utah

Salt Lake City, UT

Registration Now Open!

Up to 15 CLE Credits, including 1 Ethics Credit

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Congress enacted the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) with bipartisan support 55 years ago to achieve “harmony” between people and the environment, better inform the public, and improve agency decision making. Following significant amendments to NEPA in the 2023 Fiscal Responsibility Act, the new administration has issued a series of executive orders and agency rulemakings to address the view that NEPA has evolved to impose excessive regulatory burdens that result in unacceptable delays to needed projects. In addition, recent landmark judicial decisions and executive actions have rolled back NEPA’s scope of coverage and the role of the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) in defining NEPA’s implementing procedures.

This joint institute developed by The Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law and the Wallace Stegner Center at the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law assembles experienced NEPA legal practitioners, scholars, current and former government officials, and environmental technical consultants to analyze and dissect the recent actions by all three branches of government that have substantially changed the procedures and substantive requirements governing the NEPA compliance process. The institute is structured to provide both an overview of recent changes to NEPA and explore advanced topics in NEPA procedures and policy.

Registration includes an electronic course manual of scholarly papers and a hosted reception.

12 scheduled presentations include:

The New NEPA Basics
Agency Development of NEPA Implementing Regulations and Guidance
A Critical Assessment of NEPA Part 1 - Efficiencies and Benefits - When NEPA Works
A Critical Assessment of NEPA Part 2 - Ongoing Deficiencies
A Practitioners' Guide to the Administrative Record - Scope, Privileged Documents, Supplementation
Project Sponsor-Prepared Environmental Impact Statements - Challenges and Opportunities
What Really Causes NEPA Delays
A Practitioners' Guide to NEPA Litigation Remedies
Finality and Regulatory Certainty
Defining the Scope of the NEPA Analysis - the Seven County Decision and Beyond
Legal Ethics in a Rapidly Changing World
NEPA Practice Tips and Success Stories - The Perspective of NEPA Consultants

NEPA Special Institute Pricing

Early Bird Registration ends at 11:59 pm MT on

October 16, 2025

Early Bird/Late:

Foundation Member

Nonmember

Government/Nonprofit

Law School Faculty

S.J. Quinney College of Law Faculty

Senior Member

New Professional Member

Foundation Student Member

S.J. Quinney College of Law Student

$755/$855

$955/$1055

$495/$595

$295/$395

$100/$200

This program is only being offered in an in-person format.

Your registration fee includes access to the electronic course materials.

Hotel Information

The Little America Hotel

Room Reservations:

Little America Hotel, 500 Main Street, Salt Lake City, Utah 84101, is offering discounted guest rooms for this program until October 16, 2025, or until our block sells out, at the rate of $189 per night or $142 per night for government employees (please be prepared to show a Government ID). Refundable rooms outside of our block are at least $329 per night.

The entire program will take place at the S.J. Quinney College of Law at the University of Utah. The hotel is about a 5-minute walk from the TRAX line, which will take you right to the University.

BOOK YOUR HOTEL ROOM