Environmentally Speaking

Hosts: Marisa Desautel and Clarice Parsons What happens when courts stop deferring to agency expertise? In this episode of Environmentally Speaking, hosts Marisa Desautel and Clarice Parsons unpack the impact of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Chevron deference and what it means for environmental law today. Marisa explains how Chevron shaped administrative law for nearly four decades...

In this episode of Environmentally Speaking, Marisa Desautel and Clarice Parsons explore attorney-client confidentiality and how it applies across the many types of clients encountered in environmental law practice. Marisa explains the differences between representing individuals, municipalities, state agencies, nonprofits, and other organizations, and discusses a key legal question: when the clie...

In this episode of Environmentally Speaking, hosts Marisa Desautel and Clarice Parsons unpack one of the most misunderstood aspects of environmental and municipal permitting: site control, property interests, and why some projects fail before they even truly begin. What started as a social media reel and a “hot take” quickly turned into a deeper conversation about accountability in zoning and perm...

In this week’s episode of Environmentally Speaking, Marisa and Clarice dive into the unexpected environmental recovery happening in and around the Chernobyl exclusion zone nearly 40 years after the nuclear disaster. The conversation explores recent research showing that wetlands, peatlands, microbes, and even wildlife are not only returning to the region, but in some cases appear to be thriving de...

Podcast: Environmentally Speaking Host: Marisa Desautel Guest/Co-host: Clarice Parsons In this episode of Environmentally Speaking, Marissa Desautels and Clarice Parsons unpack a recent article raising concerns about the removal of climate change content from a scientific reference manual intended for judges. What starts as a reaction to a strange and troubling article quickly becomes a larger con...

Podcast: Environmentally Speaking Host: Marisa Desautel Guest/Co-host: Clarice Parsons In this episode of Environmentally Speaking, Marisa Desautel and Clarice Parsons unpack the federal EPA’s rescission of the 2009 “endangerment finding,” a policy determination that has shaped greenhouse gas regulation for the past 16 years. They break down what the finding is, why its rollback matters, and how r...

In this episode of Environmentally Speaking, environmental attorney Marisa Desautel and co-host Clarice Parsons sit down with Rhode Island State Senator Alana DiMario (District 36) to discuss how environmental policy is shaped, implemented, and funded at the state level. Senator DiMario shares her journey from mental health counselor to legislator and explains why climate change, coastal resilienc...

In this episode of Environmentally Speaking, Marisa Desautel and co-host Clarice Parsons are joined by Rhode Island State Senator Alana DiMario to discuss how environmental policy is developed and carried out at the state level. Senator DiMario shares her background and explains why climate change, coastal resiliency, and waste reduction are critical issues for her coastal district. Topics covered...

In this episode of Environmentally Speaking, Marissa Desautel and co-host Clarice Parsons discuss recent federal changes to environmental policy and growing challenges to public participation under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). They examine lawsuits against the Bureau of Land Management, new federal permitting legislation, and concerns about how faster approvals may weaken environm...

In this episode of Environmentally Speaking, environmental attorney Marisa Desautel and co-host Clarice Parsons unpack the concept of Marine Spatial Planning (MSP)—a legal and policy framework designed to organize human activities in the ocean while balancing conservation and economic growth. Topics covered include: How Marine Spatial Planning mirrors land-use zoning principles The role of federal...

In this episode of Environmentally Speaking, environmental attorney Marisa Desautel and co-host Clarice Parsons dive into how Rhode Island’s coastal municipalities are adapting to climate change and rising sea levels through updated zoning and land-use ordinances. Topics covered include: The growing urgency of coastal resilience planning in Rhode Island Steps towns are taking to revise municipal o...

This week on Environmentally Speaking, Marisa and Clarice dive into a timely and critical topic—Rhode Island's first-ever buyback program for flood-prone homes along the Pocasset River. With increased flooding due to climate change and rising sea levels, federal and local agencies are stepping in with a solution: offering homeowners fair market value to relocate away from flood-risk zones. But wit...

In this episode of Environmentally Speaking, environmental attorney Marisa Desautel and co-host Clarice Parsons discuss Rhode Island’s first state-funded coastal resiliency study, a result of the recently passed Act on Coasts (2024). Topics covered include: What is a resiliency study and why it matters Current threats to Rhode Island’s coastline The newly appointed Chief Resilience Officer and the...

Clarice and Kerin sit down to discuss today's political climate and the way it is impacting land use in New England. Kerin discusses the question: "What happens when politics and special interests get involved in our zoning and land use process?"

In this episode of Environmentally Speaking, we dive into the crucial role of regulators and explore how businesses and individuals can build productive, trust-based relationships with them. Our guest, Bill Patenaude, brings over 34 years of experience as a regulator and trainer at the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RI DEM) to share valuable insights on how to navigate regula...

Welcome back, listeners, to another episode of Environmentally Speaking! After a brief hiatus, we're diving right back into the pressing issues of environmental policy and legislation. In today's episode, we discuss the dramatic shifts in governmental policies, particularly focusing on the surprising changes regarding offshore wind projects under the new administration. The Biden administration's...

Have you ever wondered how supply chain issues impact developers and what alternatives they might have? Tune into this week's episode of Environmentally Speaking with hosts Kerin and Clarice as they break down the trends, pitfalls, and strategies for navigating these challenges. Key Takeaways: - Understanding market cycles and timing your projects - Practical tips to save money and strategize bett...

Join Clarice and Marisa as they discuss the ban on single-use plastic bags in this thought-provoking episode of Environmentally Speaking. Have thoughts or experiences to share? Reach out.

In this episode, Clarice and Marisa tackle the intricacies of environmental law, focusing on EPA policy documents and their implications. Discover how these documents differ from regulations and why they matter for anyone involved in environmental science, consultation, regulatory work, or legal practice.

New episode alert! Today on Environmentally Speaking, we explore the fascinating intersection of art and land use and how regulations shape public art in our communities. 

In today's episode of Environmentally Speaking, we're reflecting on how recent laws are transforming housing and community spaces. New legislation unlocked development potential by allowing for smaller homes on previously unusable lots and encouraging the adaptive reuse of charming old buildings. This could mean more housing options and revitalized neighborhoods, but questions remain about impacts...

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.

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 in a Japanese landfill to the current research aim...

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 just the landscape. We'll also discuss shocking i...

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 discuss the introduction of a specialized land use c...