Representative Experience
Advises hydropower dam owner on natural resource compliance and permitting issues related to ongoing Endangered Species Act (ESA) compliance, Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) implementation, and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) relicensing for multiple dams in Washington.
Represents offshore wind developer in National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) ESA consultation and Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) authorization issues in FAST-41 process for proposed offshore wind project off the coast of Massachusetts.
Represents flood control district on natural resource permitting and ESA consultation issues associated with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) permit for proposed flow-through dam for flood control and associated comprehensive mitigation planning in southwestern Washington.
Represents owner and operator of multiple hydropower facilities on ongoing ESA compliance and salmon reintroduction issues in Washington.
Advises renewable energy developer on FERC licensing issues related to potential pumped storage project preliminary permit application.
Obtained 25-year FERC license, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) lease, and federal and state approvals to construct and operate nation’s first grid-connected wave energy test facility in federal waters off the coast of Oregon.
Led successful permitting effort for natural gas development platform and pipeline in Cook Inlet, Alaska including ESA, MMPA and USACE Clean Water Act (CWA) and Rivers and Harbors Act (RHA) approvals.
Advised national trade association on offshore wind advocacy issues including developing ESA and MMPA strategic white papers and assisting in preparing comments on programmatic National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) reviews.
Represented solar energy developer on ESA compliance issues including successful negotiations with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) regarding San Joaquin kit fox mitigation requirements for property in California.
Advised offshore wind developer on federal permitting issues related to BOEM’s planned offshore wind lease sale in federal waters off the West Coast.
Advised national oil and gas and geophysical contractors’ associations on ESA issues related to BOEM permitting of seismic surveys in the Gulf of Mexico.
Obtained nation’s first commercial FERC license for a wave energy project off the coast of Oregon, including ESA and MMPA authorizations and coastal zone approvals; negotiated and drafted comprehensive agreement with federal, state, and non-governmental stakeholders resolving all issues for 35-year commercial license term.
Developed ESA section 7 consultation and MMPA compliance strategy for proposed liquid natural gas (LNG) terminal.
Advised utility on complex federal lands rights-of-way and permitting issues for transmission upgrade and replacement project.
Obtained changes to NMFS killer whale vessel regulations to ensure the safe operation of existing Puget Sound oil and gas tanker, barge, tug and service vessels.
Negotiated and drafted settlement agreements with key federal, state, tribal, local and non-governmental parties for relicensing five large hydroelectric projects in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana for up to 50-year terms. Agreements resolved issues ranging from fish passage, water quality and ESA issues to recreation, cultural resources and flood control.