Limiting NEPA: Practice Implications of the Seven County Decision

Mr. Menard focuses his practice at the intersection of environmental and energy law. Prior to joining Hunton, he served as legal advisor to a Commissioner on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) where he provided counsel on legal issues that arose before the Commission, with a particular focus on environmental and permitting matters related to pipeline and liquified natural gas projects. Mr. Menard also served as an attorney advisor in FERC’s Rehearings group, where he was the team lead on rehearing orders covering a wide range of matters arising under the Natural Gas Act, Federal Power Act, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Endangered Species Act, and Clean Water Act (CWA), among other statutes.

Mr. Brady, Partner in DLA Piper's Downtown Los Angeles office, represents clients in administrative processes before local, state and federal governmental agencies and in litigation matters in state and federal courts. He has helped clients obtain land use entitlements, government contracts, and permits for local and complex multi-jurisdictional development projects across California. His expertise includes a deep working knowledge of state and local zoning laws and land use regulations, the California Environmental Quality Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, contaminated site remediation, and water rights. His experience also includes winning court cases and helping clients successfully navigate regulatory enforcement matters involving the California Environmental Quality Act, land use entitlements, soil and groundwater contamination, Clean Water Act permits, and air quality permits.

Ms. Ward focuses her practice on a broad range of environmental and administrative litigation, regulatory compliance and enforcement defense across multiple industry sectors, with an emphasis on natural resources, public lands, energy and offshore operations. She has assisted clients with issues under various environmental laws such as the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Clean Water Act (CWA), Endangered Species Act (ESA), Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), Administrative Procedure Act (APA), National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and other similar legal frameworks. Ms. Ward also assists clients with the laws and regulations governed by the U.S. Department of the Interior, including the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) and Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA).