Public Law and Finance

Environmental

Butler Snow’s environmental practice began in the early 1970s when few environmental laws were in existence.  Since then, we have been actively involved in the expanding field of environmental law.  We have developed a comprehensive knowledge, experience and contact base that is available to help both business and government to address environmental needs.

In the private sector, our environmental lawyers represent both major corporations and smaller businesses in matters before the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.  Our lawyers can handle business environmental needs from the inception of a project to its completion and as matters arise during the course of daily business operations.

Butler Snow lawyers are actively involved in representing a number of public clients in the environmental area all across the state of Mississippi.  We represent numerous regional utility authorities involved in water and wastewater treatment and disposal as well as several regional non-hazardous solid waste management authorities.  We also represent numerous counties and cities in environmental issues that arise from time to time, and our attorneys are listed in the Environmental Law section of The Best Lawyers in America®.

The environmental practice is wide-ranging and involves numerous issues affecting both the private and public sectors.  Below are a few areas our lawyers address for clients on a regular basis: 

• Complex federal, state and local laws and regulations, from Superfund to local zoning regulations;
  
  
• Permitting and compliance issues across all media (air, water, hazardous waste, other solid waste);
  
  
• Transactions, mergers and acquisitions, including advice, environmental audits, surveys and due diligence;
  
  
• Comprehensive solid waste management, including collection, characterization, transportation, landfilling and remediation;
  
  
• Litigation, including administrative, permit compliance and enforcement, cost recovery actions, insurance coverage and toxic torts;
  
  
• Maritime, steamship and shipyard operations;
  
  
• Natural resource development, management and conservation;
  
  
• Surface mining of sand, gravel, coal, bauxite and other minerals;
  
  
• Forestry and silviculture;
  
  
• Agriculture, including concentrated animal feeding operations; and
  
  
• Water utilization, management, treatment and disposal, from initial diversion or withdrawal through discharge, injection or evaporation.
  
  
  For additional information on Environmental, please contact Tommie S. Cardin or Michael D. Caples.