Environmental Law
Navigating environmental regulation with clarity and control.
Sections
overview
focus areas
depth of practice
team
insights
industries served
representative matters
testimonials
contact us
overview
focus areas
depth of practice
team
insights
industries served
representative matters
testimonials
contact us
Overview
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?
Focus Areas
Regulatory Compliance & Environmental Risk Management
Environmental regulations are constantly evolving. We help clients understand and comply with federal, state, and local requirements, develop internal compliance strategies, and respond effectively to regulatory scrutiny.
Environmental Enforcement & Agency Proceedings
We represent clients in enforcement actions brought by regulatory agencies, including the NYSDEC and EPA. Our team handles investigations, notices of violation, consent orders, and administrative proceedings with a focus on minimizing exposure and resolving matters efficiently.
Contamination, Remediation & Environmental Liability
Environmental contamination can create significant legal and financial risk. We advise clients on remediation obligations, liability allocation, and cost recovery under federal and state environmental laws, including CERCLA and the New York Navigation Law.
Brownfield Redevelopment
We guide clients through the New York State Brownfield Cleanup Program and other redevelopment initiatives, helping secure approvals, manage remediation requirements, and unlock tax credits for contaminated property redevelopment while managing regulatory risk.
Permitting, SEQRA & NEPA Review
We assist clients with environmental permitting and regulatory review processes, including SEQRA and NEPA compliance. Our team ensures procedural requirements are met and represents clients in challenges to environmental determinations when necessary.
Environmental Litigation & Dispute Resolution
When disputes arise, we represent clients in state and federal litigation involving environmental damage claims, regulatory enforcement, and related real property issues. Our approach focuses on resolving disputes efficiently while protecting long-term interests.
Depth of Practice
Our depth of practice includes experience with:
- Representation of clients in matters involving CERCLA, RCRA, TSCA, and the Clean Water Act
- Compliance counseling under federal and New York environmental regulations
- Environmental enforcement defense and resolution of NYSDEC and EPA actions
- Petroleum spill response and liability under the New York Navigation Law
- Environmental permitting and regulatory review processes
- SEQRA and NEPA compliance and litigation
- Brownfield redevelopment and participation in the New York State Brownfield Cleanup Program
- Environmental due diligence in real estate transactions and financing
- Remediation planning and coordination for contaminated properties
- Representation in environmental damage and cost recovery litigation
- Advising corporate officers and organizations on environmental liability exposure
- Wetlands regulation and compliance, including SPDES permitting
Team
Romanowski-M
Marc
Romanowski
Partner
Buffalo, NY
Insights
No Results Found
The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.
Industries Served
Related Practice Areas
Project Development, Land Use & Energy
Environmental Planning & Sustainability
Real Estate
Business Litigation
Land Conservation
Representative Matters
- Negotiated favorable settlements with the United States Department of Justice releasing multiple commercial clients from a federal action seeking over $90 million in damages
- Resolved environmental enforcement actions brought by the NYSDEC against commercial entities for alleged regulatory violations
- Represented property owners in resolving environmental issues identified during real estate acquisitions and refinancing transactions
- Represented clients in litigation and regulatory matters arising from petroleum spills and contamination events across New York State
Testimonials
Your content goes here. Edit or remove this text inline or in the module Content settings. You can also style every aspect of this content in the module Design settings and even apply custom CSS to this text in the module Advanced settings.