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21 Util. Sec. Newsl.: Periodic Rep. Members Sec. Pub. Util. L. A.B.A. 1 (1980-1981)

handle is hein.journals/infrastr21 and id is 1 raw text is: UTIIJTY S E ,'TION NEWSLETTER,
A Periodic Report to the Members of the Section of Public Utility Law Pf t D.,tdK hrBvrtAssacivdon
Page 1
Vol. 21                 No. 1               October 1, 1980
The Chairman's Statement
As we move into the early 1980's, the guiding principle that the only constant !'
change seems particularly apt for the public utility lawyer. The regulatory and
economic environment affecting the nation's telecommunications, utility, and trans-
portation industries continues to undergo profound and rapid change.
The telecommunications industry is in the throes of a major restructuring - a cor-
porate analogue of biological mitosis - in the separation of its traditionally regu-
]ated activities from the rapidly developing and growingly competitive nonregulated
sectors. The utility industry must address complex impacts stemming from our ef-
forts as a nation to redefine our energy policy coherently. More pointed emphasis
will be placed on reducing oil and gas consumption and increasing near-term relL-
ance on coal and long-range development of synthetic fuels. The airline, rail, and
trucking industries must adjust to life in a deregulated world. The substitution of
regulation by the economics of the marketplace rather than government mandate
heightens the antitrust significance of the competitive impacts of deregulated activi-
ties. And each of our industries has a significant stake in the ongoing reexamina-
tion of federal and state processes respecting the development of our energy re-
sources and the interrelationship between natural resource development and needed
protection of our environment. In the coming year, the regulatory framework of
the Glean Air Act will be reviewed by Congress on the question whether a proper
balancing is in place as we work to achieve concurrently both air-quality goals and
other vital and competing national objectives for energy development and economic
growth and revitalization.
The dynamics of change presents the public utility bar with a stimulating challenge
and opportunity to contribute significantly to a constructive resolution of the many
complex and critical public policy issues of our times.
On behalf of the entire Section, I thank Dave Toll for his inspiring example in so
ably leading the Section over the past year. Additionally, we are all in debt to
George Shertzer for a first-rate Annual Report on Regulatory Law, and to Fred
Lavey for smoothly handling its publication. Paul Russell kept us all stimulated
by the programs he so well arranged and Francis
Welch made sure we were timely informed of sig-
nificant developments as editor of our Section's
Newsletter. George Perrine continued his ef-
fective representation of our Section in the House
of Delegates and Jerry Seymann kept us under
proper tabs in his role as Budget Officer. We are
particularly grateful to Mike Grove for his ex-
cellent work in overseeing the myriad details of                N
our meetings.
I look forward to working with our Chairman-     I
Elect, John Vukasin, and with our new Council
members elected at the August Anniual Meeting
and who are listed below. I appreciate Evans
Brasfield undertaking responsibility for our An-    William J. McDonald
nual Report for 1980-81, and Bob Helman accept-      Chairman, 1980-81

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