Overview
Pullman & Comley’s Environmental Law attorneys are multi-disciplinary problem-solvers, helping clients address a range of issues, from “end of pipe” pollution control to sustainable practices, product life cycles, large-scale development and brownfield redevelopment.
Our environmental attorneys handle matters before federal and state courts and administrative agencies for situations involving all environmental media. Our litigators represent clients in toxic tort, Superfund (CERCLA) and contamination cost recovery proceedings in state and federal courts throughout the country, frequently serving as counsel for groups of responsible parties. In Connecticut, we appear before DEEP in contested hearings and on permitting, Transfer Act, remediation and brownfield redevelopment issues.
We also counsel our clients and assist them in acquiring and disposing of real estate assets and businesses. Our real world experience allows us to advise our clients on the risks and potential rewards associated with properties that have environmental issues. In addition, our attorneys possess knowledge of such cutting edge issues as vapor intrusion, green building and nanotechnology, which allows us to keep our clients aware of and compliant with changing regulations. Included in the scope of our environmental work are utility and energy projects, land use (planning, zoning and wetlands), telecommunications, brownfields, renewable energy and green development work. The breadth of our firm’s other resources allow us to coordinate with colleagues who practice in general real estate, corporate, tax, bankruptcy and criminal law.
It is always our goal to understand our client’s business and become a trusted resource in planning the client’s operations in an environmentally responsible, cost-effective way. Although we take pride in finding efficient and effective solutions to problems, our greatest pleasure comes from working with clients to anticipate and prevent problems.
Experience
- Successful defense of Fortune 500 companies in toxic torts suits in Connecticut, Vermont, Texas, Illinois, Arkansas, Washington and Louisiana
- Advantageous settlement in a mining waste case in Illinois
- Siting and permitting for a 620 megawatt natural gas fired turbine
- Recovery of remediation costs for property in Connecticut from a major U.S. car manufacturer
- Defense of Fortune 500 corporations, water companies and POTWs against criminal charges under federal and state environmental statutes
- Representation of utility companies, independent power producers and lending institutions in connection with the acquisition of natural gas pipelines and electric generation assets
- Defense of municipalities and manufacturers in stigma and personal injury cases arising from contamination of drinking water wells and proximity to a Superfund site
- Successful defense of Fortune 500 companies in criminal and civil environmental enforcement actions in California, Connecticut, Indiana, Louisiana and Wisconsin
- Successful defense of a Connecticut developer regarding alleged lead paint issues
- Counseling of Connecticut POTW in successful negotiation of water-quality based (TMDL) NPDES permit
- Advantageous settlement of remedial design defect claim against environmental consulting firm
- Settlement of a complex contamination situation allowing residential redevelopment of an industrial brownfield site
- Representation of joint venture in brownfield new urbanist redevelopment
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Case Studies
- 2024
Our representation of municipalities, businesses and developers often involves navigating significant environmental and regulatory issues in projects that will have a lasting positive impact. For example, we currently represent the Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments in a collaborative effort to remove two aging dams from the Naugatuck River with the goal of restoring the river to its natural course and allowing migratory fish passage, while improving water quality, eliminating dam safety concerns and reducing flood risk. Our attorneys worked with federal and state regulators, including the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services to comply with myriad regulations relating to the dams’ removal, as well as the remediation of 200 years of industrial sediments that had accumulated behind them. This remediation will allow the effective passage of fish for a 40-mile stretch of the Naugatuck River from Long Island Sound.
- 2022
Our team is defending a variety of clients that have had enforcement actions brought against them under the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act and state and federal waste regulations. The actions, which have been brought by state and federal regulators could have resulted in millions of fines being levied against our clients. However, by working with technical professionals and explaining the science behind the alleged violations, our team was able to secure reasonable settlements for our clients.
With the assistance of Pullman & Comley attorneys, Sacred Heart University purchased the 66-acre former General Electric world headquarters in Fairfield, Connecticut.
Pullman & Comley has taken the lead in proposing innovative legislation to form a state-certified brownfield land bank that creates a valuable new tool for municipalities seeking to remediate and redevelop brownfield sites.
