Environmental

Our firm's environmental practice is wide-ranging. Our practice includes all environmental media and involves representation at all levels of government, federal, state, and local. We handle matters related to environmental impact evaluations and statements, federal and state wetland permitting and mitigation, Endangered Species Act issues, surface and ground water pollution, NPDES waste water and storm water permitting, Superfund litigation, water rights, water supply and water and sewer treatment, air pollution control, mining and forestry, noise control, citizen suit and toxic tort litigation, NEPA and SEPA issues, sedimentation, environmental insurance litigation, underground storage tank and trust fund reimbursement advice and litigation, public trust and coastal permitting issues, solid and hazardous waste management and permitting activities, fish habitat, and purchase and sale of contaminated properties. On a regular basis, the firm handles matters before the state and federal environmental agencies (including the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the North Carolina Environmental Management Commission, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency), the North Carolina Office of Administrative Hearings, and state and federal courts.

Six of the firm's lawyers devote their practices primarily to environmental law. Another eight have had substantial experience in one aspect or another of environmental practice. We have been frequent speakers at seminars and continuing legal education programs concerning environmental issues.

We represent a number of local governments on environmental matters. Our representation of local governments has included legal and strategic advice and litigation involving public water supplies and publicly owned dams, hazardous waste incinerators, landfills, storm water and flooding issues, wastewater and wastewater treatment, brownfield redevelopment, FEMA issues, and water and sewer utility contracting. We assisted the City of Greensboro in drafting some of its environmental ordinances and policies, including those related to hazardous waste management and storm water.

We also represent a broad cross-section of businesses, industries, and individuals in North Carolina and the southeast. The firm has served as counsel for developing the strategy and preparation of environmental impact studies and wetland mitigation plans for various large projects in North Carolina, including the Global Transpark, Piedmont Triad Airport Authority, the Buckhorn Dam, the Randleman Dam, and the PCS Phosphate 20-year mining permit. These projects have had continuous involvement by regional and national environmental protection advocacy groups and extensive press coverage.

Expert and experienced legal advice is required for environmental matters, but often is not enough. Many of the matters we handle involve high levels of responsibility for project management and a critical need for effective communication and coordination with review agencies and interested parties. Our environmental lawyers provide the effective management and integrated approach that often are crucial to the success of a project.