from 1987 to 1990, lash served as secretary of the vermont agency of natural resources, having served the previous two years as vermont’s commissioner of environmental conservation. during his tenure in vermont government, lash helped write, win enactment of and implement statutes on issues ranging from pollution prevention and solid waste management to protection of streams. in 1990 he became director of the environmental law center at the vermont law school, rated the best program of its kind in the united states.