Feb. 14, 2011

MONTPELIER – Ronald Shems, an attorney specializing in environmental and energy law, has been tapped to chair the Natural Resources Board. Shems is currently a partner in the Burlington firm Shems Dunkiel Raubvogel & Saunders.

“When I was looking for a new chair of the Natural Resources Board I was looking for a person who has the skills, the background and the experience to transform the board into an agency that works closely with the Agency of Natural Resources to ensure that we can grow jobs in Vermont while maintaining our commitment to our environmental values,” Gov. Peter Shumlin said, in announcing the appointment.

“Ron Shems is the perfect person to do this job,” the Governor added. “He can get tough things done.”

Shems co-founded the law firm in 2001. Prior to that, he worked for 15 years at the Vermont Attorney General's Office, where he split his time between special assignments managing complex constitutional and regulatory cases, and as the Environmental Unit's senior Assistant Attorney General.

“We are excited to have Ron join the Governor’s environmental team,” said Agency of Natural Resources Secretary Deb Markowitz. “We look forward to working closely with Ron and the staff at the Natural Resources Board to keep Vermont a great place to live, work and start a business.”

The Natural Resources Board is a nine-member group that is divided into two panels, the Land Use Panel and the Water Resources Panel. The Land Use Panel oversees the activities of the District Environmental Commissions, provides administrative support and enforcement of Act 250 permits, and conducts rulemaking related to the Act 250 program. The Water Resources Panel is responsible for the management and protection of Vermont’s water resources, including significant wetlands.

Shems received a BA from Clark University in 1981, and a JD and Masters in Environmental Law in 1985 from Vermont Law School.