Commentary

Senior Counsel

Peter has been an environmental, land use, and consumer attorney and advocate since 1983. He has held various roles in Washington, DC including Of Counsel at the Center for Food Safety; Vice President for U.S. Government Policy at Conservation International; Director of International Conservation at Defenders of Wildlife; and Staff Attorney at the Center for Science in the Public Interest. Additionally, he worked as a contracted consultant on endangered species recovery efforts with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Turner Endangered Species Fund in New Mexico. Prior to that, he served as an Attorney and Policy Analyst for the U.S. Congress, Office of Technology Assessment, and was also in private law practice. His career has centered on bringing the best science to bear in environmental protection efforts; he has specialized in working with scientists so their findings can inform good policy, as well as in federal litigation. Most of his work has been in aid of wildlife conservation in the fields of pesticides, genetically modified organisms, invasive species, wildlife disease prevention, international trade, land use conflicts, and other areas. Peter received his law degree from the University of Puget Sound (now Seattle University) School of Law and also has a master’s degree in Environmental Studies from the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, with a focus on conservation biology.

BLOG | Social Distancing to Curb COVID-19 and Park Overcrowding

by | February 1, 2021
Biden Executive Order on COVID-19 protocols on federal property puts the National Park Service under a direct presidential order to do something it's resisted for years - manage overcrowding ...

Statement | Biden Administration’s New Direction on Climate

by | January 28, 2021
Biden's executive orders are the first steps to a rapid transition from fossil fuels and increased protections for our communities, public lands and oceans ...

BLOG | Restoring Confidence in the Senate Confirmation Process

by | January 22, 2021
After four years of deceit under the Trump administration, it is time to restore confidence in government, including in the Senate confirmation process ...

BLOG | Biden’s Approach to Climate Disruption: What Will It Mean for Federal Agencies?

by | January 21, 2021
President Biden has called for a “whole of government” approach to addressing climate disruption. What does this mean ...

Op-Ed | Viewpoint: EPA Needs to Return to Its Public Health Roots

by | January 20, 2021
By returning to its public health roots, the EPA can begin to restore the public’s trust in its ability to protect both public health and the environment ...

BLOG | The Dumpster Fire Presidency in Review

by | January 19, 2021
The Trump Administration went out of its way to violate “good government” laws and norms. Here's a list of their worst "Dirty Dozen" abuses ...
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