We are recognized experts in the highly specialized field of environmental law. We advise and represent clients on a wide range of environmental law issues in the following areas:
- Air quality
- Water quality
- Contaminated property investigation and cleanup
- The California Environmental Quality Act
- The National Environmental Policy Act
- Endangered species protection
- Wetlands regulation
- Proposition 65 warnings and discharge
- Schoolsite review
- The Asbestos Notification Law
Our attorneys have advised clients on environmental issues in connection with many significant, high-profile projects, including freeways, offshore oil platforms, onshore oil fields, pipelines, sewage pipelines and treatment plants, water pipelines, large-scale residential and commercial development projects, a light rail project, and various other infrastructure projects. We also have substantial experience in negotiating with environmental regulators at the federal, state, and local levels of government.
We routinely advise clients on compliance with CEQA and NEPA in connection with approval of public and private projects. CEQA’s requirements in particular are very complex and often uncertain, and we specialize in making CEQA and NEPA compliance as “bullet proof” as possible. We also regularly defend public and private projects in CEQA lawsuits, with considerable success.
Our attorneys have represented public and private clients in air quality litigation matters arising under the federal Clean Air Act, the California Clean Air Act, regulations promulgated by the California Air Resources Board, and regulations adopted by local air pollution control districts. We have handled air quality litigation involving a variety of different projects, including oil refineries, offshore oil platforms, power plants, and state-wide regulations governing the content of motor vehicle fuels.
We have handled a variety of water quality issues, including issues arising under the federal Clean Water Act, the State Porter-Cologne Water Quality Act, the federal Oil Pollution Act of 1990, and the Oil Spill Prevention and Response Act of 1990. We have handled matters relating to National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (“NPDES”) permits, stormwater discharge, sanitary sewer overflows, and ocean discharge, among many other water quality issues.
We also have considerable experience and expertise in the laws governing contaminated property. We have advised on the application of the federal and state superfund laws, the federal and state hazardous waste control laws, the schoolsite review laws set forth at California Education Code Sections 17213.1 and 17213.2, the California Underground Storage Tank Law, and common law claims. Our matters have included many different types of facilities, including gas stations, automobile maintenance facilities, dry cleaners, landfills, oil fields, and large and small manufacturing facilities. In addition, our attorneys have extensive experience advising landowners and developers on development of contaminated and remediated properties. We have also brought and defended cost recovery actions seeking reimbursement for the costs of investigating and cleaning up contaminated property.