Air Quality Practice
The lawyers at Marten Law Group help clients navigate the complicated web of federal, state, and local air quality laws and regulations that impact their business. We work creatively with clients to help them meet air quality requirements so that their plans can move forward. Our lawyers have extensive experience advising clients on the federal Clean Air Act and state and local air quality laws and regulations.
Our work includes compliance counseling, representation in enforcement proceedings, and helping clients achieve regulatory or legislative solutions when necessary. We assist clients to obtain air quality permits on an expedited basis, as well as advising on new source performance standards, emissions trading, and toxic air contaminant issues.
Our lawyers understand the opportunities and risks posed to different sectors of the economy by emerging laws and regulations aimed at reducing greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions. (See our Climate Change practice.) We have a thorough understanding of emerging carbon markets and how companies can use these markets to minimize their regulatory risks and maximize business opportunities. We assist our clients in strategically analyzing their GHG assets and liabilities and tailor carbon management strategies to the specific needs of our clients.
Experience:
Permitting for New and Existing Sources • Title V Air Operating Permits • New Source Performance Standards • Air Toxics • Mobile Sources, Fuels and Additives • Compliance Counseling • Defense of Enforcement Actions • Appeals and Variances • Regulatory Development
Representative Matters:
- Our lawyers assisted a client in obtaining critical revisions to Washington state incinerator rules that allowed client to comply with regulations that were otherwise impossible to comply with. We convinced the EPA that the revisions were not less stringent than the previous rule, so that the revisions could be incorporated into the federally approved State Implementation Plan and become federally enforceable.
- We negotiated a carbon emissions mitigation agreement with a company desiring to locate a large fossil fuel fired power plant in Northwestern Washington.
- We defended a major oil company in an enforcement action based on allegations of failing to comply with air quality regulations. We negotiated a settlement that was mutually agreeable to the client and the agency.
- We assisted a municipal power company to obtain emergency air quality permits for additional generators on an expedited basis during an energy shortage.
- We represent some of the largest companies in the Pacific Northwest on an ongoing basis in connection with air quality issues at their facilities in Washington, Idaho and other states.