Permitting
Waller Lansden’s environmental team has a broad range of experience in assisting clients in securing the required permits and other regulatory authorizations necessary for their operations. From greenfield manufacturing plants, to large commercial or residential developments, to pipeline projects extending hundreds of miles, to landfills and hazardous waste treatment, storage and disposal facilities, we have worked with clients to develop, negotiate, and defend permits and regulatory approvals under all major statutory programs.
In today’s world, there is opposition to almost any new project. The “not in my backyard” (NIMBY) mindset of some can make even the most popular project controversial. The many public participation requirements for permit approvals provide those opposed to change a mechanism to impose impediments to projects and often-costly delays in the process. Our team works closely with our clients to anticipate the controversies and to develop proactive permitting strategies designed to meet the client’s critical time frames to obtain the necessary permits and other regulatory approvals. We recognize that the permitting process often involves both “technical” and “political” discussions and we work closely with our clients to develop a successful permitting strategy to address both. Finally, we work to ensure that the terms and conditions imposed in the permits do not unduly burden the future operations of the client’s business.
Once the permits are in place, we work with our clients to ensure mechanisms are in place to ensure ongoing compliance with minimal disruption to operations.
Significant Matters
- Obtained Tennessee water quality certification and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Tennessee Valley Authority permits for filling wetlands for road extension for a $70 million East Tennessee commercial development, despite considerable adverse media attention and opposition by numerous environmental organizations
- Drafted Title V air permit applications for numerous manufacturing facilities in Tennessee, including several of the State's largest industries, ensuring that permits remain as flexible as possible to accommodate changes in production requirements and deleting numerous unnecessary permit conditions from existing state permits
- Assisted lead smelter in obtaining transfer of hazardous waste treatment permits, including response to significant negative media and public comment opposing permit transfer
- Assisted national mining company in obtaining multiple federal and state environmental permits for construction of quarry and barge terminal on the Tennessee River
- Coordinated overall permitting, government and public relations activities related to obtain federal, state and local permits associated with construction of an interstate high pressure natural gas pipeline
- Assist large automobile manufacturer in obtaining Clean Air Act PSD permit for $1.4 billion automobile assembly facility in the Southeast
- Obtain significant expansion of controversial hazardous waste treatment storage and disposal facility.
- Obtain permits, zoning and other regulatory approvals for 20-year expansion of private solid waste landfill in a rapidly growing suburban county
- Negotiate and obtain permits for $100 million expansion of ethanol and food products facility
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