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Environmental

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WE TEAM WITH CLIENTS TO SOLVE A WIDE RANGE OF COMPLEX LEGAL AND POLICY CHALLENGES ARISING FROM ENVIRONMENTAL, LAND USE AND RESOURCE LAWS.

Overview

Dorsey represents clients in major compliance, litigation, administrative, enforcement, insurance and legislative matters relating to environmental, land use and resources laws. We also counsel clients on environmental and regulatory issues arising in corporate, real estate and infrastructure development matters. Our clients include manufacturers, contractors and developers, airlines, railroads and light rail, agricultural and food processors, energy generators (coal, gas, nuclear and renewable), mining companies, refineries and petroleum distributors.

We can help you resolve your most difficult environmental challenges by creating a team with the right legal knowledge, industry understanding, business acumen and experience to meet your needs. We help clients address environmental matters in a wide range of areas, including:

Agricultural chemicals
Air and water quality
Audits, compliance programs and environmental reviews
Brownfield Development
Cultural and Historical Resources
Endangered Species
Enforcement (civil and criminal)
Environmental and Major Facility Permitting
Hazardous Waste/Superfund
Insurance Coverage
Mining/Natural Resources
Public Lands
Remediation
TSCA/FIFRA
Toxic Torts
Worker Safety (OSHA)

Experience

Client Achievements

Litigation

NEPA litigation for proposed coal mine facility
NEPA litigation for deregulation of genetically-engineered seed
State environmental review litigation for tire-to-energy facility
“Restoration damages” litigation arising from petroleum release
CERCLA and RCRA litigation involving alleged releases of hazardous substances
Toxic tort litigation involving alleged workplace exposure to lead
Toxic tort litigation arising out of major chemical release from railcar
Environmental litigation relating to noise levels at major airport

Compliance

“Fast Track” environmental permitting for “major source” manufacturing facility
Environmental review for intermodal facility
Environmental permitting of gas-fired power plant
Environmental permitting of coal-fired power plant
Environmental permitting of major agricultural processing facility
Environmental audit of petroleum refinery
Compliance review and counseling for large coal-fired electric power generating facility
Multi-media environmental due diligence of petroleum refinery
Multi-media environmental due diligence of more than 400 facilities (single transaction)
“White Paper” investigation of Fortune 100 company’s environmental auditing program
Brownfield development of former military facility
Drafting and advocacy of environmental legislation
Criminal enforcement defense in CERCLA, RCRA and Clean Act matters
Civil enforcement defense in CERCLA, RCRA and Clean Air Act cases

Accolades

2022 Lawyer of the Year Robert Cattanach, Minneapolis-Litigation-Environment, Best Lawyers

US News Best Lawyers 2017 Top Environmental Litigation Law Firm

Dorsey Tier 1 Environmental Law Practice-Best Lawyers 2016

Industries & Practices

Energy & Natural Resources

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Sustainability

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Cooperative Law

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Indian & Alaska Native

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Insurance Law

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Real Estate & Land Use

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Cooperative Law
Energy & Natural Resources
Indian & Alaska Native
Insurance Law
Real Estate & Land Use
Sustainability

featured resources

Press Releases Water Law and Regulatory Affairs Attorney Fred Breedlove Joins Dorsey in Phoenix

December 2, 2024

Media Mentions Partner Brian Bell Featured in Multiple News Outlets for Insight on SCOTUS Case "San Francisco v. EPA"

October 24, 2024

Press Releases 201 Dorsey Lawyers Recognized in 2025 Best Lawyers in America, Lawyers of the Year, and Ones to Watch

August 15, 2024