In recent years, the web of federal and state environmental laws has grown increasingly far-reaching and complex. Environmental requirements now affect most local government activities on a daily basis. Localities that take a pro-active approach to environmental issues can reduce costs, integrate economic and environmental goals, and obtain funding for environmental projects. Spiegel & McDiarmid can help clients reach cost-effective environmental solutions for their communities.

The firm combines legal and regulatory counseling with government advocacy to protect localities from liability, streamline regulatory requirements, and obtain monetary resources for local environmental projects. We have represented localities in Environmental Protection Agency regulatory, permitting and enforcement proceedings, in the crafting of environmental legislation, in brownfi elds and land use matters, in environmental negotiation and litigation, and in lobbying for federal environmental funding.

We have had considerable success for our clients with issues related to the Clean Air Act, Superfund, RCRA (Resource Conservation and Recovery Act), Clean Water Act, and NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act). We have successful experience before the federal agencies affecting environmental issues, including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Department of Energy (DOE), the Department of the Interior (DOI), the Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Department of Transportation (DOT), and the Army Corps of Engineers.

In addition, we represent the only national group dedicated exclusively to local government environmental issues – NALGEP, the National Association of Local Government Environmental Professionals.