The Honorable Mark Herring, attorney general of Virginia, will be the speaker in the Blue Planet Forum: Exploring the Bay and Beyond environmental lecture series at Old Dominion University Wednesday, August 27.

The lecture, which will be given in the Webb University Center from 7-8:30 p.m., is free and open to the public.

The Blue Planet Forum is presented by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, with co-sponsorship from ODU. Its mission is to educate and engage the public on important environmental issues affecting Hampton Roads and the nation.

Herring, who is in his first year in office, has taken action beneficial to environmental stewardship. This spring he filed an amicus brief in a federal courts case, defending the right of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to take a more active role in Chesapeake Bay cleanup efforts of Virginia and other states. EPA authority to work with individual states to strengthen their environmental plans has been challenged by farming and industry organizations, as well as the attorneys general of 21 states that are not on the bay.

Because seating is limited for Blue Planet Forum events, advance registration is recommended by phone at 622-1964, via e-mail at blueplanet@cbf.org or at the website www.cbf.org/blueplanet.