[StBernard] Legal Advisor for Public Health

[Westley Annis]

Legal Advisor for Public Health 

December 2 , 2005

By: Steve Cannizaro


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St. Bernard Council hires legal advisor for environmental and public health
issues related to hurricanes; team made up of former La. DEQ Secretary Kai
D. Midboe and St. Bernard environmental attorney Christina Bigelow

Recognizing that environmental issues can impede the recovery effort in St. 
Bernard, parish government has selected Milling Benson Woodward (MBW) law
firm as its legal advisor for environmental and public health issues related
to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and the Murphy Oil spill.

The MBW team is comprised of Kai D. Midboe, former Secretary of the
Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality and Christina Bigelow, an
environmental attorney who is also a St. Bernard Parish resident.

The firm was chosen by unanimous vote of the Parish Council based on its
technical and legal experience and vested interest in St. Bernard Parish,
officials said. The move came after the Council evaluated responses to a
request for proposals for environmental legal advisory services.

Midboe has vast experience in all areas of regulatory compliance, as well as
experience in state and federal government and as a private attorney
representing clients before federal and state agencies.

Midboe was the Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Environmental
Quality during Hurricane Andrew in 1992, an experience that will be
invaluable to St. Bernard parish in addressing the environmental issues
faced by the parish and its citizens, officials said.

Bigelow also has practical experience in regulatory compliance and,
specifically, responding to environmental incidents. Having worked in both
the private and public sectors, advising both industry and the Department of
Energy Strategic Petroleum Reserve, her practical experience and legal
education combine to brig a balanced perspective when advising on
environmental issues, officials said.

Also, the Council is creating an Environmental and Public Health Work Group
composed of parish officials to assure coordination of the environmental and
public health responses by the parish.

The Council has directed Midboe and Bigelow to meet with all key federal and
state environmental agencies to ensure the interests of the parish are fully
represented in all environmental decisions affecting St. Bernard.

And, at a December Council meeting, the Council intends to call for a formal
briefing by these governmental agencies on the environmental and public
health issues facing the parish, officials said.

It's the intent of parish government to assure that the current and future
health, safety and well being of its residents are fully protected,
officials said.