Collection of Works

Nassau Academy of Law

Nassau County Bar Association

 Environmental Law, Government Relations, and 

Municipal Law and Land Use Committees

Long Island, New York communities, like those around the United States and the world, face many challenges in providing clean drinking water to their residents. The issues include addressing and remediating historic and legacy contamination found on sites throughout New York and the United States that contribute to groundwater. These municipalities, and the companies located in and around our communities, continue to be engaged in efforts to address the class of contaminants known as “forever chemicals” which includes PFAS.  Innovative and developing technology is key to reducing the costs of this vital and necessary water treatment.

A legal panel discussion will focus on regulatory and litigation issues, and PFAS factual issues in these matters, including fate, transport, and allocation, regulated community concerns, and municipal government obligations.  

A second panel of technical specialists, will focus on the challenges to meet regulatory standards, impacts of forever chemicals on environmental remediation efforts and costs, drinking water filtration technologies currently available, and the next generation of cleanup technologies for drinking water.  

The PFAS Panel Discussion is hosted by the Nassau Academy of Law, which allows for participation by non-bar association members, and will be sponsored by the Nassau County Bar Association (NCBA) Environmental Law, Municipal Law and Land Use, and Government Relations Committees.

Location:  Domus, the headquarters of the Nassau County Bar Association, located at 15th and West Streets, Mineola, NY 11501.

The Forum Panels

Legal Issues in Regulation and Litigation Issues of PFAS Contamination cases.

1 – 2:30 pm

Sin Senh, PG

Chief Executive Officer, President, Principal Hydrogeologist

Roux Associates

Andrew Sivert, Esq.

Senior Counsel

Sterling Risk Environmental & Professional

Technical Considerations and issues with PFAS in removing, treating, and filtering these chemicals.  

2:45 – 3:45 pm

Tonya Chandler

President

BioLargo Equipment, Solutions and Technologies

Michael G. Savares, P.E.

Vice President

D & B Engineers and Architects

Richard Desrosiers, PG, CT-LEP

Associate Principal/ Vice President, Hydrogeologist, PFAS Initiative Lead

GZA GeoEnvironmental

Keynote Address, Reception and Buffet Dinner

4:00 – 5:00 pm

Keynote Address:

Robert Bilott, Esq.

Partner,

Taft, Stettinius & Hollister LLP

Award Presented by Dennis P. Calvert, Chief Executive Officer, BioLargo

and Tonya Chandler, President BioLargo Equipment Solutions and Technologies.

Global Environmental Leadership Award

22nd Century by Design Fund

Movie Screening:  

5:00 – 6:35 pm

Revealed:  How to Poison a Planet

The documentary film examines a decades- long battle between some of the world’s largest chemical companies and contaminated communities.

Summary of Comments of John L Parker, Esq.

Program Organizer and Moderator

PFAS Forever Chemicals are Changing Water Quality, Public Health, and

Increasing Costs: A Legal and Technical Review

Nassau Academy of Law

Nassau County Bar Association

Environmental Law, Government Relations, and

Municipal Law and Land Use Committees

April 29, 2026

Long Island, New York communities, like those around the United States and the world, face many challenges in providing clean drinking water to their residents. The issues include addressing and remediating historic and legacy contamination found on sites throughout New York and the United States that contribute to groundwater. These municipalities, and the companies located in and around our communities, continue to be engaged in efforts to address the class of contaminants known as “forever chemicals” which includes PFAS.  Innovative and developing technology is key to reducing the costs of this vital and necessary water treatment.

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Introduction of Keynote Address Speaker, Robert Bilott, Esq.

Robert Bilott is partner at Taft Law.

He is an internationally-recognized litigator, advocate, and author who has spent over 35 years in the practice of law addressing a variety of environmental law issues, including regulatory compliance, permitting, and corporate/real estate transactions and complex multi party and multi-district litigation.

Most notably and relevant for this forum, he has international stature as a leader in the forefront of “forever chemicals,” such as the PFAS chemicals, and has served a key role in litigation efforts that uncovered these chemicals and resulted in  disclosure of the impacts of these environmental contaminants.

His effectiveness as a legal advocate is substantial.

He has secured billions of dollars for clients adversely impacted by PFAS contamination, providing key leadership positions in the nation’s first class action and personal injury, medical monitoring, and multi-district litigations, and jury trials involving PFAS. 

In addition to securing hundreds of millions in recoveries for clients, his efforts led to scientific analysis and conclusions regarding the cancer and disease causing impacts of this class of chemicals.  

He is a frequent commentator on PFAS issues – before Congress, States, parliaments of the European Union, and committees of the United Nations. 

There are ways to learn more about his storied career.  

In Fall 2019, the Movie Dark Waters was released.  

It reflects awareness about chemical pollutants in his litigation efforts against one of America’s largest corporations. It has influenced public policy and community safety initiatives.  

It has an 89 rating on Rotten Tomatoes.  Go See It.

In addition, it is worth considering viewing Revealed: How to Poison a Planet, which has limited viewing availability. 

This documentary film examines Robert Bilott’s decades long battle between some of the world’s largest chemical companies and contaminated communities