Scope of Services
As the primary author of both the Mined Land Reclamation Law Amendments of 1991 and the Oil, Gas and Solution Mining Law Amendments of 1981, I am in a unique position of understanding what the NYS regulators want and then managing submissions to the agency that meet both the client’s and the Department’s needs. I am also distinctively familiar with the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQR), as I was charged to create a regulatory process for both mining and oil and gas that complemented and enhanced the planning and review process.
The following is a Scope of Services for your consideration:
• Team with project sponsors, attorneys, and other consultants to create strategies and implementation plans to optimize the probability of receiving approvals while minimizing the time necessary to secure approvals,
• Represent, communicate, and make presentations on behalf of clients before state regulatory agencies - notably the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation - the public, and local governments to secure project approvals,
• Oversee production and provide quality control of written submissions - applications, environmental assessments, and environmental impact statements - to the regulatory agencies and to the public,
• Prepare documents and studies to support technical and legal positions and/or serve as an expert witness to further client’s interests,
• Work with attorneys on litigation, enforcement, and compliance matters before the regulatory agencies,
• Handle press communications on project-related issues, and
• Advise clients on energy-related projects, particularly oil and gas production matters, the underground storage of natural gas, and the siting of pipelines under the NYS Department of Public Service.
While the majority of state work has been with the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation; I have had extensive experience with the NYS Adirondack Park Agency; the NYS Department of State through the Coastal Zone Program; the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation; the NYS Office of General Services; and the NYS Department of Public Service.