Practices
Environmental
Environmentally related decisions and actions generate some of the most challenging, complex and costly issues facing business today. They range from the regulatory requirements placed on day-to-day operations to responsibility arising from prior operations and activities and from the transfer of real estate or contaminated property. Such matters are often compounded by allegations of imminent or long-term threats to human health or natural resources and regularly generate strong public concern and emotion.
Our environmental law group has had broad experience in virtually all aspects of environmental laws, regulations, litigation and negotiation. We are prepared to counsel our clients as they address and resolve state or federal "Superfund" actions; property assessments and clean-ups, including underground storage tanks; local, state or federal air, water or waste handling or disposal permitting and compliance activities; defense of permit violations; the control of toxic and hazardous substances; legislative and regulatory hearings; environmental audits and other preventative programs; and the myriad of other environmental challenges arising today.
Recently, we were instrumental in resolving a regulatory violation and penalty case brought against one of our clients by the State of Michigan; negotiating several land sale or development projects despite significant environmental issues; recovering environmental investigation and cleanup costs from a prior property OWNER; successfully defending cleanup claims against three of our clients by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; and obtaining needed statutory and regulatory changes. We routinely represent clients with environmental challenges in their dealings with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and in all state and federal courts.