Environmental Law

Environmental law is technical, highly regulated, and often high stakes. When contamination, regulatory enforcement, or compliance failures arise, the legal and financial exposure can be significant. These matters can affect operations, timelines, and long-term business viability. Rupp Pfalzgraf’s environmental law attorneys represent businesses, municipalities, and organizations navigating complex environmental regulations, remediation obligations, and environmental litigation across New York State.

Our environmental attorneys provide strategic, practical guidance to help clients stay compliant, manage risk, and resolve environmental issues efficiently, whether through proactive planning, regulatory engagement, or litigation. Our focus is regulatory compliance and environmental defense, helping clients manage liability and maintain operational continuity.

Environmental matters rarely exist in isolation. They often involve overlapping federal, state, and local regulatory frameworks, technical scientific considerations, and significant financial consequences. Our attorneys combine legal proficiency with technical understanding to guide clients through these challenges with clarity and precision.

We regularly represent clients in matters involving environmental compliance, permitting, enforcement actions, and remediation under major federal and state statutes, including CERCLA, RCRA, TSCA, the Clean Water Act, and the New York Navigation Law. Our team works closely with clients to assess risk, respond to agency actions, and develop defensible strategies that protect both operations and long-term interests.  

Our attorneys have extensive experience working with regulatory agencies such as the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). We represent clients in inspections, alleged violations, consent orders, and enforcement proceedings, as well as in related state and federal litigation.

We also advise on environmental review and permitting processes under NEPA and SEQRA, helping clients navigate approvals, manage compliance obligations, and respond to challenges when projects or operations are contested.  

Beyond regulatory and litigation work, we provide transactional support for environmentally impacted properties and businesses. This includes environmental due diligence, risk assessment, remediation planning, and guidance through acquisitions, financing, and redevelopment projects, including participation in the New York State Brownfield Cleanup Program.

From contamination events and petroleum spills to complex redevelopment projects and enforcement actions, our Environmental team delivers strategic, results-driven counsel designed to resolve issues, reduce exposure, and keep clients moving forward.

We Answer Your Environmental Law Questions

• What should we do if we receive a notice of environmental violation?
• How do we respond to the EPA or NYSDEC during an investigation?
• Who is responsible for contamination on a property?
• What are our obligations under CERCLA or New York’s Navigation Law?
• How do we handle a petroleum spill or environmental incident?
• What permits are required for our operations or project?
• What is involved in the SEQRA or NEPA review process?
• Can corporate officers be held personally liable for environmental violations?
• How do we limit liability during a property acquisition or refinancing?
• What are our options if we are facing cleanup or remediation costs?