Environmental

Newmeyer Dillion handles virtually all aspects of environmental legal work that clients routinely come across, with particular focus on hazardous substance impacts, project compliance, and strategic approaches within deals and in litigation. Today’s environmental landscape is complicated by ever-changing legal and regulatory mandates. Our firm’s lawyers provide clients with cutting-edge advice molded from a strong grasp of the underlying dynamics for each property or operation.

Contaminated Sites

As the cornerstone of our environmental practice, applying technical acumen, our team focuses on investigation, strategic analysis, and remediation for site acquisitions/sales, development, regulatory interface, and related litigation in federal and state courts. We help clients manage environmental risks related to property in California and across America. Our team represents clients before a wide range of environmental agencies for projects including commercial, industrial, raw land, and residential, as well as specialty facilities such as gas stations, oil fields, airports, and landfills. These matters involve a complex mix of soil, groundwater, and vapor contamination. Our lawyers work hand-in-hand with professional geologists and engineers to ensure that clients have a seamless and cost-effective technical/legal approach.

Proposition 65

California's Proposition 65, the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, poses burdens and potential risks to California businesses, as well as those businesses whose products end up in California.  Our lawyers counsel manufacturers, retailers, property owners, builders, and employers as to the warning requirements imposed by Proposition 65, including its amendments and ongoing regulatory changes.

Emerging Contaminants of Concern

California continues to be on the forefront of addressing emerging chemicals of concern.  For example, PFAS are a large family of synthetic chemicals found in a wide range of industrial, commercial, and household products. Studies indicate some PFAS chemicals can cause developmental problems, birth defects, and cancer.  The state is turning its regulatory attention to PFAS and has begun issuing orders to businesses and property owners to investigate whether there is PFAS contamination on or near those locations.  Our environmental lawyers have a proven track record working with clients to coordinate a response to such orders, ensuring the investigation and response process is as painless and cost-effective as possible.  We have established relationships with a stable of licensed technical professionals throughout the state.  We embrace the ever-evolving challenges that accompany this type of work and have extensive experience and credibility with state and local regulators.