Merolla & Accetturo, Warwick, RI
Partner and Assistant Solicitor, Town of New Shoreham, 2006~present
Provide legal services in all matters and proceeding pertaining to environmental law, land use, zoning and property law; including, RIDEM, CRMC, and EPA. Manage all aspects of local, state, and federal permitting and compliance. Responsible for preparing municipal ordinances and performing extensive legal, legislative and policy research for all aspects of municipal affairs for the Town of New Shoreham. Manage all aspects of complex personal injury defense litigation for a large national automobile insurance agency.Additional substantive experience in, administrative law, real estate transactions, personal injury litigation, and corporate filings.
Roger Williams University School of Law, Bristol, RI Adjunct Professor - Land Use Planning
The course focuses on the public regulation of land and its use. Various planning theories are reviewed in the course of studying the law of zoning, subdivision control, eminent domain and renewal of urban and rural areas.
Conservation Law Foundation, Providence, RI
Director of Rhode Island Advocacy/Staff Attorney 2002~2006
Responsible for establishing and maintaining Conservation Law Foundation-Rhode Island Advocacy Center’s durable and permanent presence as a leading environmental advocacy organization. Provided strategic development and implementation for, and overall direction of, various advocacy initiatives. Mentored and supervised project staff. Represented CLF in environmental/land use litigation and environmental regulatory matters.
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPERIENCE
Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, Providence, RI Environmental Scientist/Engineering Technician 1992~1998
Responsible for the implementation of the Rhode Island Individual Sewage Disposal System (ISDS) Regulations. Developed and coordinated ISDS licensing exams, licensing program, and training seminars. Responsible for the permitting, inspection and enforcement of ISDS.
Responsible for preparing Surface Water Supply Management Plans. Conducted investigations of non-point pollution sources to surface drinking water supplies. Analyzed and updated Geographic Information System (GIS) land use maps. Provided detailed recommendations for the remediation of non-point pollution sources to surface drinking water supplies.
Missouri Conservation Department, Columbia, MO
Wildlife Research Biologist 1991
Collected research data related to mourning dove production estimates. Conducted live trapping, leg banding and radio tagging. Performed radio telemetry tracking via air and ground. Estimated seasonal and annual survival rates and production estimates.
Vermont Association of Conservation Districts, Montpelier, VT
On-Site Sanitary Specialist 1989~1990
Engineered and submitted detailed ISDS designs for local sewage and state subdivision permits. Performed soil and groundwater evaluations. Oversaw construction and certification of septic system and well installations.
PROFESSIONAL APPOINTMENTS
State of Rhode Island Water Allocation Program Advisory Committee 2002~2004
State Housing Commission’s Low & Moderate Housing Task Force 2003~2004
Governor’s Narragansett Bay and Watershed Planning Commission 2003~2004
State Energy Office Renewable Energy Fund Advisory Board 2002~2005
State of Rhode Island Greenhouse Gas Project Stakeholder Committee 2002~2005
Environment Council of Rhode Island, Treasurer 2003~2005
Buckeye Brook Coalition, Board of Director and President 2003~2006
Public Advisory Committee of RI Bays, Rivers, & Watersheds Coordination Team 2005~2007
Warwick Land Trust Committee, Chairman 2006~present
Groundworks Providence, Vice President 2007~present
MEMBERSHIP
Rhode Island Bar – Environmental and Energy Law Committee 2001~present
Rhode Island Bar 2001~present
United States District Court – District of Rhode Island 2002~present
United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit 2006~present
United States Supreme Court 2009~present
LITIGATION AND ADVOCACY PROFILE
Providence, RI KeySpan and Fall River, MA LNG proposals
Brayton Point Power Station emissions controls
Block Island’s Champlin’s Marina expansion
Discharge permits for sewage treatment facilities in Narragansett Bay
Rhode Island Airport land use and discharge permitting
FAA Environmental Assessment- Jonesboro, ME airport proposal
RIDEM Fishery License Appeals
Zoning and Land Use Appeals
CRMC Assent Issuance and Challenges
INVITED LECTURES
Brown University - Environmental Site Design 2003
Univ. of RI & RI Association of Conservation Commissions - Affordable Housing Panelist 2003
RI Rivers Council Land and Water Summit - Application of the Clean Water Act 2004, 2005, 2006
Blackstone River Coalition - Application of the Clean Water Act 2006
Roger Williams University – Site and Environment Fall 2004
New England Law Libarian Conference - Regional LNG facility proposals and the environment ___________________________________________________________________