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Our
attorneys
provide
advice
to
contractors
and
other
clients
on a
wide
range
of
environmental
issues.
We
counsel
clients
on
how
to
manage
environmental
risk.
The
environmental
practice
team
often
works
closely
with
the
Firm’s
construction,
government
relations
and
real
estate
groups
to
address
projects'
environmental
concerns.
Our
attorneys
have
substantial
experience
in
all
aspects
environmental
permitting,
including
permitting
related
to
building
in
or
on
coastal
property
and
wetlands
and
on
impacted
property,
landfill
disposal,
hazardous
waste
and
natural
resource
permitting,
and
waste
water,
dewatering
and
storm
water
permitting.
We
also
assist
contractors
with
the
permitting
and
regulatory
aspects
of
demolition,
urban
infill
(brownfields)
and
building
on
or
near
environmentally
sensitive
lands.
We
advise
contractors
about
laws,
rules
and
regulations
related
to
the
proper
handling
of
hazardous
materials
on
construction
sites
and
recycling
of
project
waste
materials,
as
well
as
the
proper
disposal
of
materials
at
third
party
sites.
The
Firm's
environmental
practice
is
broad-based
and
includes
drafting
the
proper
contractual
protections
to
protect
against
or
transfer
environmental
liabilities,
helping
our
clients
procure
environmental
insurance
and
identifying
all
relevant
environmental
permitting
and
regulatory
requirements.
Typical
issues
range
from
underground
storage
tanks
and
other
preexisting
hazardous
waste
conditions
or
site
contamination,
to
asbestos
removal
and
disposal,
to
health,
safety
and OSHA
concerns,
to
regulatory
reporting
obligations.
Our
attorneys
focus
on
working
with
clients
in
the
early
stages
of
projects
to
understand
and
minimize
environmental
exposure.
We
conduct
training
sessions
with
our
clients,
helping
them
to
understand
and
anticipate
environmental
issues
and
problems
and
the
ever
evolving,
and
often
confusing,
environmental
regulatory
world.
Experience
shows
that
if
owners
overlook
or
do
not
fully
account
for
environmental
issues,
general
contractors
can
be
saddled
with
extra
permit
fees,
fines,
increased
regulatory
scrutiny,
substantial
increased
costs
for
a
project,
project
delays
and
potential
shut
down
of
a
project.
We
assist
our
clients
in
developing
environmental
practices
and
procedures
to
avoid
such
problems
and
counsel
them
on
the
state
by
state,
and
local,
differences
in
the
regulatory
structure.
While
we
often
consult
with
our
clients
in
the
bidding
and
contract
negotiation
stages
to
ensure
that
any
environmental
concerns
are
identified
and
addressed
up
front,
we
have
also
interceded
during
the
course
of
construction
projects
when
environmental
issues
unexpectedly
appeared.
In
those
situations,
we
work
quickly
with
regulators
in
those
situations
to
resolve
issues
in
order
to
minimize
delay
and
reduce
additional
project
costs
and
penalties.
And
our
team
works
closely
with
clients
and
environmental
consultants
to
develop
the
most
cost-effective
cleanup
programs
where
such
cleanup
is
required.
Our
attorneys
advise
our
clients
on
how
to
avoid
and
address
mold
issues
prior
to,
during,
and
after
construction.
Firm
attorneys
have
helped
to
develop
a
mold
protocol
for
contractors
and
are
integrally
involved
in
the
Associated
General
Contractors
Mold
Litigation
Task
Force.
Similarly,
our
attorneys
counsel
clients
during
environmental
audits
and
assist
in
developing
audit
and
compliance
program
policies.
The
Firm's
attorneys
also
represent
consulting
and
contracting
firms
bidding
on
and
conducting
large
environmental
or
natural
resource
projects.
We
have
assisted
such
clients
with
project
and
contract
negotiations,
as
well
as
permitting
and
associated
environmental
regulatory
issues.
Our
environmental
practitioners
play
roles
in
conducting
environmental
due
diligence
on
various
projects.
These
range
from
corporate
mergers
and
acquisitions
to
the
purchase
and
development
of
commercial
and
industrial
facilities
and
land.
When
necessary,
the
environmental
practice
team's
attorneys
vigorously
represent
our
clients'
interests
in
litigation
in
administrative,
state
and
federal
tribunals.
We
defend
clients
in
governmental
inquiries
and
litigation,
civil
and
criminal,
as
well
as
private
party
litigation
in
environmental
and
mold
cases.
Our
attorneys
serve
as
common
or
group
counsel
in
Superfund
matters.
We
have
brought
claims
against
other
potentially
responsible
parties
for
response
costs
incurred
in
cleaning
up
sites
and
facilities.
We
have
negotiated
judicial
and
administrative
consent
agreements
in
environmental
cases
ranging
from
federal
and
state
Superfund
and
Resource
Conservation
and
Recovery
Act
cases
to
storm
water
and
wetlands
and
other
clean
water
violations,
to
dewatering
and
air
cases.
The
Firm
has
also
been
involved
at
the
legislative
level
to
promote
our
clients'
concerns
in
the
environmental
area.
For
example,
Firm
attorneys
were
heavily
involved
in
the
drafting
and
passage
of
the
original brownfields
legislation
in
Florida
and
in
developing
risk-based
cleanup
standards
at
the
local
and
state
levels.
We
have
also
tracked
nascent
mold
legislation.
The
Firm
attorneys
who
practice
in
the
environmental
area
are
both
counselors
and
litigators.
They
understand
construction
projects
as
well
as
environmental
regulation
and
litigation.
They
understand
the
potential
price
to
be
paid
if
environmental
issues
are
overlooked
or
ignored
and
they
counsel
clients
about
this
legal
exposure.
While
the
Firm's
attorneys
assist
and
counsel
companies
on
how
to
avoid
litigation,
they
nevertheless
stand
ready
to
vigorously
defend
clients
should
an
environmental
enforcement
action
be
brought
against
them.
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