Hawai‘i Life. Hawai‘i Law.

Lanikai Beach on the windward coast of Oahu, Hawai’i
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Legal Solutions for Organizations Facing Environmental Situations

Our attorneys have been active in environmental law since public agencies first began to regulate land use with environmental issues in mind. The firm has experience in federal, state and local regulation of the environment.

The lawyers at Goodsill have literally written the book on environmental law. “Hawai’i Environmental Law Handbook” (3rd Edition) is a 484-page compendium of Hawai‘i’s environmental laws, authored by the firm’s environmental law group. It’s the most current guide to environmental laws affecting the private sector, including businesses and real property owners.

Our work also includes:

  • Advice and counsel: Assist clients on issues concerning air quality, water quality, solid and hazardous wastes, underground storage tanks, toxic and hazardous substances, pesticides and endangered species, as well as contamination issues including arsenic, asbestos, dioxin, lead-based paint and petroleum
  • Statutory compliance: Advise clients regarding compliance with the following environmental laws:
    • Clean Air Act
    • Clean Water Act
    • Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA or Superfund)
    • Emergency Planning & Community Right to Know Act
    • Endangered Species Act
    • Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)
    • Hawai’i Environmental Impact Statement Law
    • Hawai’i Environmental Response Law
    • National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
    • Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
    • Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)
    • Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)
    • Underground Storage Tank (UST) laws
  • Business planning: Counsel real estate, manufacturing and service business clients regarding the preparation of environmental assessments and environmental impact statements as well as needed environmental permits; work with clients on habitat conservation plans, incidental take permits and safe harbor agreements to protect endangered species; assist clients in complying with the ever-changing array of environmental regulations; and transfer environmental permits upon a change in ownership
  • Rule-making and legislation: Prepare and assist in the development of testimony and written comments on proposed environmental laws and regulations and present testimony to the legislature and regulatory agencies, promoting more workable environmental regulations
  • Administrative proceedings: Represent clients in proceedings before administrative boards such as the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the Hawai’i Department of Health and the Hawai’i Board of Land and Natural Resources
  • Litigation: Represent clients in challenges to environmental impact statements and environmental assessments; defend clients in lawsuits brought by the government or environmental groups to challenge permits or enforce environmental laws; defend clients in contested cases, administrative enforcement actions and agency appeals; represent clients in toxic tort litigation such as asbestos, geothermal and pesticide related claims; and represent industry in challenges to environmental rules

You can send our firm an email or call us at 808-547-5600 to schedule your initial consultation.

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