Episoder
-
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 client is a group, who does the attorney actually represent?
The conversation covers attorney-client privilege, legal ethics, executive sessions, public transparency requirements, municipal boards, and the challenges of balancing confidentiality with accountability in government settings. Marisa also explains when privilege applies, how it can be waived, and why not every conversation with an attorney is automatically protected.
Clarice contributes insights from the mediation world, highlighting similarities between legal confidentiality and mediation agreements, including common exceptions and reporting requirements.
Topics Covered:
Attorney-client confidentiality
Environmental and municipal law
Organizational versus individual clients
Planning boards and zoning boards
State agencies and local government
Executive sessions and open meetings laws
Attorney-client privilege and waiver
Mediation confidentiality
Legal ethics and professional responsibility
Join Marisa and Clarice for an engaging discussion on one of the most important—and often misunderstood—principles in legal practice. -
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 permitting.
Marisa explains why permitting delays and denials are not always the fault of municipalities or regulatory agencies — and how applicants often overlook critical foundational requirements before submitting a project.
Using real-world examples from environmental law and Rhode Island permitting processes, the episode explores:
What “site custody and control” actually means
Why property ownership and consent matter in permitting
How easements, rights-of-way, condo associations, and shared property interests can complicate approvals
The role of municipal boards and state agencies like DEM
What happens when objections are filed against an application
Why agencies often require disputes to be resolved in court before moving forward
Clarice brings the perspective of someone outside the legal world, asking the questions many property owners, developers, and applicants may not think to ask until it’s too late. Together, she and Marisa break down the legal concepts in a practical and approachable way.
If you’ve ever wondered why projects stall, why permits get denied, or how zoning and environmental approvals really work behind the scenes, this episode offers an informative look into the process — and the importance of doing your homework before filing an application.
Have a reel or environmental topic you’d like discussed on the podcast? Reach out and let the hosts know what you’d like covered in a future episode.
Hosted by:
Marisa Desautel & Clarice Parsons
Happy Memorial Day weekend, and thanks for listening to Environmentally Speaking! -
Mangler du episoder?
-
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 despite ongoing radioactive contamination. The hosts discuss the critical role wetlands play as natural filtration systems, carbon sinks, and biodiversity hubs — and why these ecosystems may be central to the area’s long-term recovery.
They also unpack fascinating early-stage studies examining how bacteria and microbiomes within the Chernobyl wetlands may be adapting to, or surviving despite, ionizing radiation exposure. Along the way, the episode touches on ecosystem resilience, nature-based restoration, the cultural fascination surrounding Chernobyl, and the surprising ways the planet continues to adapt in extreme conditions.
Plus: mutant daisies, bog body science, and an important reminder that nature is often far more resilient than we expect.
If you have expertise in microbiology, recombinant DNA, radiation impacts, or ecosystem restoration, the hosts would love to hear from you — and maybe even have you join the podcast for a future episode. -
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 conversation about climate science denial, the role of expertise in the courtroom, and how recent changes in judicial deference may shift scientific decision-making away from agencies and toward judges.
The conversation explores the legal, political, and practical consequences of sidelining climate science in judicial and regulatory spaces. Marissa and Clarice question whether static reference materials can ever substitute for expert testimony, especially in fields like climate science that evolve rapidly. They also connect the issue to the Supreme Court’s Loper Bright decision, arguing that reducing deference to agencies may not eliminate bias, but instead transfer power to judges who may lack technical expertise.
What the judges’ reference manual on scientific evidence appears to be
Why removing climate change material from that manual is so concerning
How the issue relates to the Supreme Court’s Loper Bright decision
Why agency expertise still matters in environmental decision-making
The limits of judges and reference manuals in evaluating evolving science
How climate denial continues to shape policy and public discourse
Why symbolic climate commitments often fall short of meaningful action
A broader question: what can actually be done when consensus is no longer realistic?
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 401-477-0023
Website: desautelbrowning.com
Reference: https://earth.org/political-attack-scientists-condemn-removal-of-climate-chapter-from-us-judges-reference-manual/ -
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 recent shifts in judicial thinking about agency authority may have opened the door to broader deregulatory action.
The conversation explores the legal, environmental, and practical consequences of the rescission, from weakened climate oversight to uncertainty for industries and regulators. Marisa also reflects on how state programs, corporate compliance, and everyday consumer experiences, like start-stop car technology, may be affected by changing federal policy.
What the EPA’s “endangerment finding” actually is
Why the February 12 rescission is such a major development
How the Clean Air Act has been used to regulate greenhouse gases
The legal backdrop of recent Supreme Court limits on agency power
Why rescinding non-statutory policy findings may be easier than undoing formal regulations
The risks of deregulation for climate policy, air quality, and public health
What this could mean for future agency rollbacks beyond the EPA
A real-world example: start-stop technology in newer vehicles
The endangerment finding was a 2009 EPA scientific determination that greenhouse gases endanger public health and welfare, giving the agency a basis to regulate emissions from sources like cars and trucks.
Because the finding was not written into statute or formalized as a regulation, Marisa explains that it may have been especially vulnerable to rescission.
The episode frames the rollback as part of a broader legal and political shift, especially after recent Supreme Court decisions limiting how much discretion federal agencies can exercise without explicit statutory authority.
Marisa argues that the rescission is environmentally harmful and warns that it could signal wider efforts to dismantle non-statutory federal programs across agencies.
The discussion also highlights uncertainty: litigation could reverse the move, industries may face inconsistent compliance expectations, and states may need to reassess how their own programs interact with federal changes.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 401-477-0023
Website: desautelbrowning.com
Reference: President Trump and Administrator Zeldin Deliver Single Largest Deregulatory Action in U.S. History | US EPA -
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 resiliency, and waste reduction are urgent priorities for her coastal district, including Narragansett, North Kingstown, and Block Island.
The conversation covers what happens after a bill passes, the importance of follow-through, and how state agencies, municipalities, and the public all play a role in turning environmental legislation into real-world action.
Topics covered include:
Rhode Island’s part-time legislature and environmental policymaking
Climate change impacts on coastal communities
Greenhouse gas reduction under the Act on Climate
Textile recycling and landfill diversion efforts
The role of education, data, and agency coordination
Funding challenges and creative solutions for climate initiatives
How residents can get involved in environmental advocacy -
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 include:
Rhode Island’s part-time legislature and environmental policymaking
Climate change impacts on coastal communities
Greenhouse gas reduction under the Act on Climate
What happens after a bill becomes law
Textile recycling and landfill diversion efforts
The role of EC4 and challenges in funding climate initiatives
How residents can get involved in environmental advocacy -
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 environmental review—particularly for offshore wind projects.
Topics covered include:
Changes to public notice and comment under NEPA
Lawsuits challenging federal agency policy shifts
Federal permitting reform and the “Speed Act”
Environmental review concerns for offshore wind
Why public participation still matters -
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 and state policy in shaping offshore wind projects
Why stakeholder engagement is critical yet often overlooked
The tension between private profit and public interest in ocean use
Understanding “knock-on effects” and cumulative environmental impacts
Lessons from the United Kingdom’s approach to marine management
The future of collaborative planning for U.S. coastal waters
Whether you’re an attorney, policymaker, or coastal advocate, this episode offers insight into the legal tools and policy discussions shaping the next generation of ocean management. -
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 ordinances for future development
Challenges of balancing due process vs. emergency action
The concept of “retreat”—when rebuilding in flood-prone areas no longer makes sense
Protecting natural defenses such as wetlands and conservation easements
Legal and policy questions about redevelopment after disasters
Human behavior during disasters and the formation of “stay-behind” communities
Whether you’re a homeowner, planner, or environmental professional, this conversation offers insight into the legal and practical measures shaping the state’s coastal future. -
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 with limited funding and over 100 vulnerable properties, is this just a drop in the bucket?
In this episode:
Why this program is launching now
How the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is involved
The impact on communities in Cranston and Johnston
Whether homeowners are getting a fair deal
Questions about long-term funding and flood prevention
🔗 Have you or someone you know received a letter about the buyback? Reach out to us! -
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 their responsibilities
Community involvement and state planning timelines
Legal implications and potential next steps
International approaches to coastal erosion
This episode explores the legal, environmental, and policy challenges involved in climate adaptation and coastal planning for Rhode Island and beyond. -
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 regulatory processes, communicate effectively, and avoid common compliance pitfalls.
Bill holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and retired from RI DEM in May 2023. He is a Certified Myers-Briggs Type Indicator instructor/facilitator and now works as a trainer and technical assistance provider for the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (NEIWPCC) in Lowell, MA, where he continues to teach regulatory relations. Additionally, Bill serves as a Flex Facilitator for Half Full LLC in Providence, where he provides training on communication skills, difficult conversations, leadership, organizational development, and more.
🔗 Connect with Bill Patenaude:
📧 Email:[email protected]
💼 LinkedIn:Find Bill on LinkedIn -
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 aggressive push for these projects has been paused with a six-month moratorium under the new executive order. We’ll explore the implications of this pause, the potential legal and environmental impacts, and what the future might hold for offshore wind initiatives. Stay tuned as we unravel these developments and ponder their consequences on our environment and legal landscape. If you have any topics you'd love to hear more about, don't forget to reach out to us with your suggestions!
Email: [email protected] -
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 better
- The importance of keeping future trends in mind -
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 on green spaces and property values.
What's your take? Could these changes be a game-changer for our communities? Share your thoughts below! - Se mer
